Dixie State Sweeps Twin Bill from GCU

Sunday, April 11

St. George, UT

12:00 p.m. DH

Grand Canyon

Dixie State University

Nicki Lorenzi

4/11/2010 8:19:30 PM | Softball

By: Joel Horn

The Dixie State College softball team swept a key Pacific West Conference doubleheader from Grand Canyon University today at Karl Brooks Field in St. George, Utah, winning 16-11 in the first game and 6-2 in the second.

The Antelopes, ranked No. 3 in the West Region, lost three of four games to the Red Storm this weekend. GCU fell to 34-11 overall, 15-9 in the PacWest, while Dixie State, ranked No. 9 in the West, improved to 24-11, 13-5.

In the first game today, the 'Lopes pounded out 17 hits, including three by senior right fielder Nicki Lorenzi (Phoenix, AZ/Horizon). Seven other GCU players had two hits each. The Red Storm's Lauren Folta (14-5) threw 176 pitches to earn the win.

In the nightcap, the 'Lopes had nine hits pushed two runs across the plate in the bottom of the sixth inning. The Red Storm had 11 hits, and scored two in the first and four in the second.

In the sixth, senior second baseman Kelli Bridges (Coeur d'Alene, ID/Lake City) doubled to right-center. Senior designated player Tracy Lubken (Scottsdale, AZ/Horizon) singled to right and advanced to second on a fielding error by the right fielder. Bridges scored on the play. Lubken advanced to third on a wild pitch. Sophomore pitcher Ivy Campas (Tucson, AZ/Sunnyside) singled to center, driving in Lubken.

Bridges went 2-for-2 in the game. Campas pitched seven innings and allowed 11 hits and six runs (only one of them earned), walked one and had one strikeout. She is 19-6 on the season.

Dixie State catcher Breanna Egge was 2-for-4 with a home run, four RBIs and two runs scored. Brittnie Whipple (10-6) got the win.

GCU will host Notre Dame de Namur (11-29, 7-15) next Saturday and Sunday at Stapleton-Pierson Field. Both doubleheaders start at noon. Sunday will be Senior Day, and the 'Lopes' six seniors -- Lubken, Bridges, Lorenzi, pitcher Amy Searcy (Bixby, OK/Bixby) and catcher Erika Reay (Scottsdale, AZ/Horizon) -- will be honored for their contributions to the program.

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