Feb. 10, 2008
Final Stats
Pocatello, ID --- Idaho State first baseman Heather Dixon crushed two home runs, but Idaho State couldn't scratch across the tying run, stranding pinch runner Kaylie Neal at second base in the seventh as Utah Valley defeated Idaho State 5-4 at the Red Desert Classic in St. George, Utah.
Dixon provided a bulk of the offense for the Bengals, serving up a solo shot in the first and then a two-run shot in the seventh to bring ISU to within 5-4. Merissa Jannsen then hit a two-out double, and Kaylie Neal came in to run for her, but Wailana Buchanan struck out looking to end the game.
Natasha Milosevich earned her first career start in the circle, but poor defense did her in. She allowed just four hits over five innings, allowing three runs, but they were all unearned. Utah Valley scored an unearned run in the third when Christine Shollenberger couldn't handle a two-out grounder, allowing Magan Niemann to score. Then in the fourth another Shollenberger error prolonged the inning enough for a two-run single by Meghan Woodworth to make it 3-1.
Kandis Clesson came in with ISU down 3-1 and allowed single runs in the sixth and seventh, and they would prove costly. Down 4-2, ISU got one back in the bottom of the sixth Amanda Stachowsky doubled in Jannsen, who singled earlier in the inning. After giving that run back to make it 5-2, Dixon hit her one-out two-run shot to make it 5-4.
Milosevich picked up the loss despite not allowing an earned run, and she walked three and struck out four. Clesson allowed two earned in two innings. Alli Bramwell went the distance for the Wolverines in earning the win.
NOTES: Dixon's two home runs gave her 14 career bombs, 10 more than any other ISU player in school history, and her two home runs tied the school record for home runs in a game ... Jannsen came in as a defensive replacement but went 2-for-2 ... this was her first game at second base after playing almost exclusively as a shortstop last year.
