No. 2-ranked DSU softball drops to 0-2 after allowing walkoff homer

Written by Darren Cole
February 6, 2016
Dixie State's Janessa Bassett (1), Dixie State University vs. West Texas A&M University, Softball, St. George, Utah, Feb. 6, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News

ST. GEORGE – She’s an All-American for a reason.

West Texas A&M slugger Lacey Taylor slugged a walkoff home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift the Lady Buffs to a 7-6 victory over Dixie State Saturday afternoon at Karl Brooks Field.

dsulogoAfter pitching in relief for DSU starting pitcher Brooklyn Beardshear, Storm ace Aryn Feickert was facing Taylor in the bottom of the ninth. The game had gone extra innings with neither team scoring in the seventh, eighth and ninth. Taylor took Feickert’s 2-1 pitch that was high and inside and sent it over the left field fence for the 7-6 victory.

“We wanted to go inside on her,” said Dixie State head coach Randy Simkins. “We watched her crush two thrown to her on the outside in earlier games. Aryn (Feickert) left it up a little high. Taylor is a good player. She got around on it quickly.”

Dixie State's Dani Bartholf (2), Dixie State University vs. West Texas A&M University, Softball, St. George, Utah, Feb. 6, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Dixie State’s Dani Bartholf (2), Dixie State University vs. West Texas A&M University, Softball, St. George, Utah, Feb. 6, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News

The winning run gave the No. 2-ranked Storm an early 0-2 record as they opened up the year against two ranked opponents.

“We have played two very good programs,” said Simkins. “Both games were close. Today we should have had some more offensive production to support our pitchers. Give credit to West Texas. They played a good game.”

The Storm jumped out to a commanding 6-0 lead with four runs coming in the top of the first. After leadoff Janessa Bassett drew a walk, Shelby Yung hit a single to third base. Josey Hartman drew a walk to load the bases. Autumn Woodfall then singled in Bassett and Yung. Brooklyn Beardshear drew a third walk in the inning to load the bases again. Mallory Paulson then singled in Hartman and Woodfall. WTAM was able to get the next two batters out to end the inning.

Dixie State's Autumn Woodfall (00), Dixie State University vs. West Texas A&M University, Softball, St. George, Utah, Feb. 6, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Dixie State’s Autumn Woodfall (00), Dixie State University vs. West Texas A&M University, Softball, St. George, Utah, Feb. 6, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News

The Storm added two more runs in the third. Hartman and Woodfall were both hit by pitches to start the inning. Beardshear then singled to center to load the bases. Arista Honey then singled to center field to score Hartman and Woodfall. The Lady Buffs made a pitching change and West Texas got out of the inning.

In the bottom of the third, five of the Buffs first six batters got base hits to put four runs up on the board. Simkins made a pitching change, bringing in Feickert for Beardshear. Feickert was able to get out of the inning without any further damage.

The Buffs would even the score two innings later. In the bottom of the fifth, Shay Ibrahim started the scoring with a solo shot to right field. Taylor then scored on a fielder’s choice with the bases loaded before the Storm could close the inning.

The Storm had several chances throughout the game to get more runs across. They stranded nine base runners over the entire game. Feickert suffered the loss (0-2). Individually, Woodfall again recorded multiple hits and two RBIs. Hartman also collected two hits and made several key defensive plays.

The Storm will finish out the invitational with a doubleheader Sunday. They will face Colorado State University-Pueblo at 12:30 p.m. Immediately after, they will play Fort Lewis College in the last game.

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Twitter: @oldschoolag

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2016, all rights reserved.

 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Darren Cole recently returned to sportswriting after a 20-plus year hiatus. While pursuing other studies, he developed an early passion for sports writing as a senior writer and sports editor for the Ricks College Scroll in 1988-89. Darren has spent the last 20 years writing legal memorandi and appellate briefs. In addition to his legal career, he has also taught legal and criminal justice courses at the university level for nine years as an adjunct professor. Darren is married to wife Lisa, has two sons and is a confessed sports junkie.

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