ST. GEORGE, Utah — An overpowering offense and strong performances on the mound Friday led Pacific West Conference leader Dixie State to a doubleheader sweep over the Academy of Art University baseball team at Bruce Hurst Field.
 
The Red Storm (18-8, 13-1 PacWest) extended its winning streak to six games with 21-3 and 6-1 victories to open the four-game series. DSU has now won 18 of its last 19 and leads the PacWest by three games over Point Loma. The Urban Knights (5-22, 3-11 PacWest) saw their losing streak extend to eight games with the defeats and six in a row on the road.
 
Junior shortstop Tyler Strawn had base hits in both games, going 3-for-8 with two RBIs and a run scored in the doubleheader. Sophomore relief pitchers Alexander Kuisel and Josh Lopez each threw an inning of relief in game one without giving up an earned run.
 
GAME ONE
 
The Urban Knights started the weekend series against the conference leaders with fire, staking themselves to an early 2-0 lead with single runs in the first and second innings. Strawn drove home junior center fielder Joseph Marchini in the first inning with a one-out RBI single after Marchini had led off the game with a hit-by-pitch.
 
Senior right fielder Jordan Thomas would bring home ART U's second run with a sacrifice fly in the second inning. The Urban Knights played small ball with junior third baseman Brett Adami and senior first baseman Daniel Skinner each reaching base to lead off the second and senior catcher Chucky Cavestany moving them over with a sacrifice bunt to set up the sac fly.
 
Dixie State responded in a big way in the bottom of the second, scoring nine runs on four his and two errors to lead 9-2. The Red Storm would score runs in every inning but the seventh from then on, including five more in the sixth to push its lead to 19-3. Strawn drove in ART U's third run in the third with his second RBI single of the game.
 
GAME TWO
 
Senior starting pitcher Nate Gercken (3-5) took the mound for Academy of Art in the nightcap, going the distance for his fifth complete game of the season and 11th of his career, tying the Academy of Art career record. He would strike out six and allow six runs (five earned) on eight hits and three walks.
 
Dixie State jumped out to a 3-0 advantage in the first inning thanks to two hits and an error in the frame. Gercken held the Red Storm scoreless for the next two innings before it doubled its run total with three more in the bottom of the fourth.
 
Strawn had one of ART U's two hits in the game, going 1-for-4 and scoring the Knights' only run in the fourth inning, making it 3-1 at the time. Senior Maclane Brady had the team's other hit in a pinch-hit situation.
 
Dixie State's Dylan File (3-1) also went the distance, throwing nine innings for the complete game victory and struck out six while allowing one run on two hits and a walk.
 
The series concludes Saturday with another doubleheader beginning at 10 a.m. PDT.