Dixie State clinches share of PacWest softball championship

PHOENIX, AZ – Dixie State clinched a share of its first Pacific West Conference softball championship on Monday, April 25, after splitting a doubleheader with Hawai‘i Hilo in its regular-season finale.

The Red Storm dropped the opener vs. the Vulcans 4-1 but rebounded to defeat UHH 7-3 in the nightcap.

Dixie State ends the conference schedule with a 23-5 PacWest record and holds a two-game lead over Hawai‘i Hilo (19-5) and a one-game margin over Hawai‘i Pacific (21-5).

With all three teams tied in the loss column, the automatic qualifier and berth in the NCAA II National Championship Tournament is still a week away from being decided.

HPU and UHH will battle on Saturday, April 30, for a possible share of the conference crown. The game can be heard live on PacWest Radio at Noon HT.

If Hawai‘i Pacific sweeps the Vulcans, then the Sea Warriors would share the PacWest Championship with Dixie State but would claim the automatic berth in the NCAA II Tournament since HPU won three of the four games played between the two schools this year.

If Hawai‘i Hilo and Hawai‘i Pacific split their doubleheader, then Dixie State wins the title outright and heads to the NCAA post-season event.

If the Vulcans sweep the Sea Warriors, then UHH would need to sweep Chaminade on Sunday, May 1, to secure a share of the PacWest Championship and the automatic post-season berth.

Hawai‘i Hilo wins the automatic qualifier in a tie with Dixie State because the Red Storm would be 1-3 vs. HPU while Hawai‘i Hilo would be 3-1 vs. the Sea Warriors.