Softball John Potter, Dixie State Media Relations Assistant

Back-to-back: Dixie State wins West Regional

Storm defeats Sonoma State 6-0 to claim regional title

ST. GEORGE, Utah – Freshman outfielder Janessa Bassett (Stansbury Park, UT/Stansbury Park) roped a two-run triple and senior infielder Nicole Chavez (Chino Hills, CA/Ayala High School) sent the next pitch over the wall for a two-run home run, giving the No. 4-ranked Dixie State softball team some cushion from an early 1-0 lead en route to defeating Sonoma State, 6-0, in game two of the NCAA Super Regional and clinch a spot in the Division II Women's College World Series for the second consecutive year. The Red Storm will make its third appearance in the WCWS in the last seven years.
 
Dixie State posted a first-inning run as the visitors against the Seawolves. Bassett legged out an infield single to third base, stole second base and advance to third on a wild pitch. After senior Courtney Hine (San Dimas, CA/San Dimas High School) drew a one-out walk, senior catcher Marla Reiter (Rolinda, CA/Central High School) laid down a sacrifice squeeze bunt to score Bassett from third and advance Hine to third after the base was left unoccupied.
 
Senior right-hander Michelle Duncan (Gilbert, AZ/Gilbert High School) made the early run stand up and cruised through the later innings to improve to 29-0 on the season. She allowed only three hits while striking out five in her eighth season shutout.
 
DSU added four runs in the top of the fifth inning. Sophomore infielder Mallory Paulson (Fruita, CO/Fruita Monument) led off with a single up the middle and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from senior Sheila Gelter (St. George, UT/Dixie High School). Sophomore shortstop Josie Hartman reached safely after being hit by an Amanda Llerena pitch. Down in the count, Bassett turned on a pitch that one-hopped the wall in right field, scoring Paulson and Hartman. Chavez wasted no time going with an outside pitch, driving it over the wall in right center for her 12th home run this season and a 5-0 lead.
 
Sonoma State had a prime chance shut down in the bottom of the sixth. Olivia Lucchese split the gap in right center for a lead off triple. Duncan recovered to get a pop-up down the left field line, a sharp grounder to shortstop and a bouncer to first to strand Lucchese.
 
Bassett tripled again, her 11th of the year, with one out in the seventh inning and Chavez lifted a ball to left field for a RBI sacrifice fly.
 
Sonoma State got a one-out base runner in the bottom of the seventh on Duncan's only walk of the Super Regional. The West Region Pitcher of the Year posted the final two outs by inducing a pop up to Hartman at short and a groundball to senior Sheila Gelter (St. George, UT/Dixie High School) at third base to end the Super Regional.
 
Bassett led the eight-hit team effort with three hits while Hine added two hits. Lucchese had two of the three hits on the day for Sonoma State (42-21).
 
Dixie State (49-7) will open up play on Thursday at ASA Hall of Fame. DixieAthletics.com will have information on brackets and game times when it becomes available.