SOFTBALL: Jennifer Arnold's three-run homer in the fifth inning was the key blow as California State-Stanislaus defeated Dixie State 5-1 in the NCAA Division II West Super Regional on Friday at St. George.

Arnold had not gotten the ball out of the infield in her two previous at-bats.

But, she said, "you can't carry your other at-bats with you. I had to clear my mind. One of my teammates said, 'shake it off.' I told her I had. She said, 'no, physically, shake it off. So I did.

"It was a drop ball and that's my favorite pitch," Arnold continued. "I didn't hit it very well."

Still, the ball cleared the fence.

The Warriors finished with nine hits. Britney Borba and Ashlee Genseal each had two. Seven of the nine batters had hits.

"Today we were fortunate," said Warrior coach Jan Schefkowitz. "We got production from everybody in the lineup."

The Warriors (35-19) led just 1-0 before Arnold's two-out blast. They had scored their first run in the second inning when Kimiko Wright walked, stole second and Borba doubled.

After Brittany Balanesi walked, Dixie State's Ashley McFarland threw Borba out at the plate on a delayed double steal attempt. That was the final out of the inning.

Jessica Gaumnitz and Dixie State's Lauren Folta battled pitch-for-pitch over the next two innings. Folta got into trouble in the fifth when Alyssa Guzman singled. Erica McIntyre and Meghan Franksen both hit into fielder's choice plays before Arnold homered to left field.

Borba drove home the Warriors' fifth run in the sixth inning with a single. Nikky Rissetto had singled ahead of her and took second on a passed ball.

Dixie State (39-11) finally broke through in the sixth inning. Bailie Hicken opened the inning with an infield single. She stole second and advanced to third on Dabney McIntyre's single. Hicken scored on a throwing error on that hit.

Following a popout, McIntyre was caught stealing. McFarland and Haley Schumers both walked before Gaumnitz struck out Kelsey Mendenhall to end the threat.

"After they scored their run, that made me more comfortable because there was no one on base. I wanted to start over from there."