SALEM, Va. – A three-run HR during the top of the third inning off the bat of right fielder Courtney Sherwin proved to be all the offense Dixie State needed on Thursday night in NCAA Division II Softball Championship action at the Moyer Sports Complex in Salem, Va., as the Red Storm held off a late threat to defeat Southeastern Oklahoma State, 3-2.
In a complete-game effort, DSU’s Michelle Duncan allowed one run on seven hits with four walks and a strikeout in improving to 21-1 overall. Mindy McElroy suffered the loss in the circle, dropping to 27-11 by permitting three unearned tallies on seven hits with two free passes and a K over 6.2 frames.
Sherwin led the Red Storm at the plate by going 1-for-3 with the three-run HR, while first baseman Sheila Gelter was 3-for-4 and second baseman Nicole Chavez added two hits in four at-bats. For SEOSU, shortstop Haley Strawn went 2-for-3, while third baseman Lacie Cook (1-for-3) and center fielder Sydney Kramer (1-for-4) each knocked in a single run.
Following a quiet opening frame, each squad managed a base runner during the second, but no scoring. It wasn’t until the top of the third that Dixie State finally managed the contest’s first real threat. With one down a pop-up behind first from left fielder Bailee Freeland was dropped for what proved to be a huge error. Leadoff hitter Chavez followed that up with a clean single through the left side, placing a pair aboard for the heart of the Red Storm order. McElroy responded to the trouble with a strikeout of center fielder Courtney Hine for the second retirement. Unfortunately for the Savage Storm, Sherwin followed by lining a three-run shot to left center as DSU nabbed a 3-0 lead.
Southeastern Oklahoma State left fielder Arianna Jones attempted to get something going for her team, christening the bottom of the third with a sharp single back through the middle. With one down a hit batter and consecutive base knocks from Cook and Kramer plated SEOSU’s first run of the match-up. On Kramer’s base knock, however, a strong throw from DSU center fielder Hine cut down a runner at the plate to limit the damage.
A one-out single off the bat of Strawn and back-to-back walks issued by Dixie State pitcher Duncan loaded the bases full of Savage Storm in the bottom of the fourth. McElroy followed with a shot back to the circle that was corralled by Duncan as the DSU hurler started a crucial pitcher to home to first double play to limit the damage and maintain her squad’s 3-1 advantage.
Dixie State advanced a runner into scoring position during the top of the sixth setting the stage for shortstop Josey Hartman. She stepped into the box and blasted a shot to deep center, just missing it, however, as the long drive got tracked down at the base of the wall.
With time running short for SEOSU in the bottom of the sixth, Strawn laced a one-out single to right. For the second time in the contest, the Red Storm came up with a big double play as a 6-4-3 twin-killing ended any potential scoring chance.
Chavez ripped a one-out two-bagger to left center during the top of the seventh for Dixie State, eventually improving to third on a groundout. Following an intentional walk of Sherwin and a stolen base that placed two in scoring position, SEOSU head coach Ron Faubion made a call to the bullpen, summoning on Jacee Bennett to face a 3-2 count against Autumn Woodfall. The new hurler threw just one pitch, finishing off a free pass and loading the bases before yet another reliever was brought into the match-up. New pitcher Shayna Milam managed a big strikeout of first baseman Sheila Gelter as DSU left the bags juiced.
Down to its last at-bat Southeastern Oklahoma State got an important leadoff base runner as Jones reached on a miscue at second. The speedster tagged and moved up 60 feet on a fly ball down the right field line before being joined by first baseman Lauren Renneker on the base paths via walk. A Jessica Simmons bouncer through the right side packed the bases full of Savage Storm. Cook followed by ripping a promising shot to the left side that was nabbed on a dive by Dixie State shortstop Hartman. The fielder managed a throw from her knees to force a runner at third for a huge second out. A routine bouncer to second completed off DSU’s thrilling 3-2 triumph.
