SR Shantae Hunter flips to 2nd base for the force
Storm season ends in Northern California
John Potter, Assistant Sports Information
5/16/2010 10:25:09 PM
ROHNERT PARK, CA – Three runs in the top of the sixth inning scored by the Dixie State College softball team were not enough as the Chico State Wildcats plated four in the same frame to defeat the Red Storm 4-3 and earn a spot in the Super Regionals of the NCAA Division-II Tournament.
The Storm made their second consecutive tournament appearance, but could not duplicate regional championship performance from a year ago. DSC ends the season with a 39-14 record, a second place finish in the Pacific West Conference and room for growth. Only one senior highlighted the squad, second baseman Shantae Hunter.
Heading into the game, Dixie State boasted the best team batting average in the regional with a .309 clip. Through five innings against Chico State, nobody tallied a hit. Wildcat starter Kylie McCarthey at one point retired 12 DSC hitters in a row only surrendering two leadoff walks.
The bats came to life in the fifth inning sparked by line drive hit to left by Katlyn Nelson. Bailie Hicken, true to her speedy nature, bunted her way aboard pushing Nelson to second. On Hunter’s single up the middle, the ball bounced past Chico centerfielder Sam Quadt giving Nelson and Hicken time to score. Breanna Egge continued the hit string running out an infield single to second advancing Hunter to third. The Storm’s final run plated as Hunter broke from third base, Kelsey Mendenhall executed a perfect squeeze bunt.
With a 3-0 cushion, the Storm only needed six more outs to force another winner-take-all game with Chico State. As has been the entire regional, disaster struck in the bottom of the sixth. Four batters in to the frame, the Wildcats had the bases loaded on a leadoff walk, a double and an infield single. Starter Brittnie Whipple was pulled for Lauren Folta who allowed an RBI single and a bases-loaded walk to move Chico within a run. A called strike three on Quadt netted the second out bringing Courtney Brock to the plate. On a 2-1 pitch, Brock singled past a diving Hunter at second to score the tying and go-ahead runs.
Throughout the tournament, Dixie State only allowed their opponents to score in the bottom of the sixth. Sonoma State mounted an improbable comeback with seven runs on Friday, Grand Canyon crept back into Saturday’s elimination contest with two tallies and the Wildcats advanced with their come-from-behind outburst.
Dixie State was retired in order in the top of the seventh. Chico State earned their first birth this decade in the Super Regionals.
Folta (20-7) received the loss allowing two runs on three hits in one relief inning.
The Wildcats will travel to the islands to face Hawaii Pacific in the Western Super Regional. HPU need two games to dispatch No. 8 seed Central Washington on Sunday.