SAINT GEORGE, Utah — After defeating Chico State 8-1 to open the tournament, No. 11 California Baptist University wanted to keep the spark Friday morning, but a strong No. 4 Dixie State stood in its way.
 
The Red Storm put together a big second inning, scoring eight runs to put the Lancers in a hole they couldn't get out of, dropping the game 11-0 to move to the loser's bracket.
 
In do-or-die fashion, CBU took on an energized Chico State team, which beat Saint Martin's in walk-off fashion to keep its season alive, and came out victorious to keep playing. The Lancers scored early and often, walking away with a 9-2 win.
 
Savannah Miller led things off for the Lancers in game two, doubling to get on base in her first chance at the plate. She worked her way to third where Kailey Willingham knocked a single to score her fellow senior, putting CBU in front 1-0.
 
Neither team could put any runs on the board in the second as the Lancers took the batter's box in the top of the third.
 
Jordan Mowatt chopped down an infield single to start the inning, using her speed to beat out the throw at first. Miller joined her on base, putting down her second hit of the game with a hard-to-handle ball deep behind the second baseman. With the two on second and first, Krista Mann drilled a three-run homer over the fence at left to put her team up 4-0 with no outs in the top of the third.
 
The Wildcats managed to get the next three batters to end the inning before the Lancers could do more damage. Chico State broke the scoreless barrier in the bottom half of the inning to cut the Lancers' lead to 4-1.
 
Jenna Lieber gave CBU a response in the top of the fourth, however, drilling a solo shot over the fence at right, banking it off the scoreboard post to give her team back its four-run cushion, 5-1.
 
It didn't last long, however, as the Wildcats struck again in the bottom half of the frame, taking advantage of a slippery outfield as the rain had reappeared to dampen the grass to cut the score to 5-2.
 
Despite the Wildcats grabbing two outs in the top of the sixth, Mowatt started a two-out rally by doubling to right center to score Heather Smith from second. Miller followed with another double — now just five away from the career record — scoring two in the process to put CBU up 8-2.
 
Chico State changed pitchers once more, but a wild pitch scored Miller from third, which capped the scoring at 9-2.
 
Loie Kesterson kept up her stellar play in the circle for the Lancers, holding the Wildcats to five hits while striking out four. She picked up her 22nd win, needing just one more to break into the single-season record book top-10 list.
 
With its earlier win, Dixie State improved to 46-7 and heads to the sub-regional championship Saturday at 11:00 a.m. Pacific time, facing the Lancers once again. CBU will need to take two games off the Red Storm in hopes of advancing to its first NCAA Division II Super Regional Championship against the winner of the other sub-region hosted at Cal State Monterey Bay.