No. 13 Dixie State University softball welcomed No. 9 California Baptist University to Karl Brooks Field for a Friday doubleheader, and the Lancers came in as good as advertised.
With the top spot in the Pacific West Conference on the line, CBU put a stranglehold on the Storm offense to end DSU’s 14-game winning streak in game one and held off a late DSU rally in game two.
The Lancers won their 18th-straight game by downing the Storm twice in the twin bill. It was a defensive battle in game one as the Lancers scored the first and only runs of the game on a two-run homer in the fifth inning.
Senior pitcher Aryn Feickert struck out 10 batters but still dropped to 15-4 on the season.
CBU didn’t wait as long to take a lead in the second game, jumping out to a 6-0 lead in the second inning.
The Storm chipped away at the lead until they got it down to two runs in the seventh and, with two runners in scoring position, had a chance to win it. CBU, though, would hold strong and get out of the jam unscathed to sweep the Friday doubleheader 7-5.
Sophomore outfielder Janessa Bassett and junior infielder Mallory Paulson each had an RBI on 2-4 from the plate to lead the Storm, while Junior Brooklyn Beardshear picked up the loss from the circle.
The second half of the four-game series was set for Saturday afternoon but was suspended until Monday at 2 p.m. due to inclement weather.