ST. GEORGE – Dylan File threw his first collegiate complete game on Friday night while the Storm offense exploded for 28 hits in two games as the Dixie State baseball team completed a sweep of Academy of Art with 21-3 and 6-1 victories in Pacific West Conference play at Bruce Hurst Field.
The Red Storm, who have won 18 of their last 19 games, improved to 18-8 on the year and 13-1 in PacWest play. The Urban Knights fell to 5-22 (3-11 PacWest).
In the opener, Academy of Art notched the first two runs of the game, but the Red Storm seized control of the game with nine runs in the bottom of the second inning. DSU took advantage of two ART U errors while posting four hits. Yuto Kata had a two-run double and an RBI single, batting twice in the frame. The senior infielder had five RBIs in the game and went 4 for 4.
Zach Watts launched his first DSU home run to lead off a five-run sixth inning. Dixie State scored 12 unanswered runs, ending with Watts lining a two-run double in the eighth. He finished a single short of the cycle, going 3-for-5 with two runs and four RBIs.
Dixie State starter Porter Clayton scattered three runs over five innings for the winning decision (4-2). Rustin Sveum held the Urban Knights to three hits over the final four innings to earn a save (1).
The nightcap belonged to File, the hometown product out of Desert Hills High School. He retired the first 14 batters he faced and allowed just one unearned run. His 99-pitch gem included six strikeouts.
Dixie State opened up a 3-0 lead against ART U ace Nate Gercken in the first inning. Trey Kamachi lined an RBI single to right field and later scored on a wild pitch, while Kevin Kline added a run with a groundout. Three more runs in the fourth inning provided insurance for File’s mound performance. Drew McLaughlin doubled home Watts, and Kamachi followed with a bunt RBI single. Later, Kline’s sacrifice fly gave DSU a five-run cushion.
Both pitchers cruised from the fifth inning on, combining to allow just three base runners. Gercken scattered eight hits in the losing effort (3-5), despite striking out six.
Morache, McLaughlin and Kamachi each had two hits for DSU in game two.
The Storm and the Urban Knights wrap up the series on Saturday with a doubleheader scheduled for 11 a.m.
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