Thunderbird Softball Drops Two in Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS, Nev. - Feb. 22 - Southern Utah softball faced its third top-10 ranked opponent of the season, falling 10-1 to the University of Tennessee and then was sunk by a two-run home run against the UNLV Rebels in a 4-3 defeat on Tuesday afternoon. The losses drop the T-Birds to 3-9 on the year with road games at Dixie State this weekend.

The Lady Vols used runs in the first, second and third innings to build a 10-0 lead before the Thunderbirds broke through in the top of the fourth. Darleen Fernandez led off the inning for Southern Utah with a solo home run and was followed by Haylee Hoch with a double. Hoch advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Ariel Morbeck, but a ground ball ended the SUU scoring threat.

Jenavieve Purcell reached base safely in the top of the fifth after being hit by a pitch, but wasn't able to advance past first base as the Thunderbirds dropped the 10-1 decision after five.

In the second game of the day, the T-Birds opened the scoring with a double steal in the top of the fifth. Heather Richardson moved from first to second on a stolen base and during the attempt the ball sailed, allowing Stephanie DeJesus to score from third.

UNLV answered with two runs in the bottom half of the frame to take the lead 2-1, but two runs by the Thunderbirds in the top of the seventh swung the advantage back to visiting side. DeJesus began the inning reaching base on a Rebel fielding error. Purcell followed with a single and the duo advanced to second and third one batter later.

Aly Daniels' two-run single during the next at bat put the Thunderbirds ahead as the senior notched her fifth RBI of the season with the second run scoring on another Rebel error. However, a two-run walk-off home run in the bottom of the seventh inning for UNLV sank Southern Utah's chance for the victory, falling 4-3.

SUU will be closer to home in its next set of games as the Thunderbirds will travel to Dixie State in a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon. The first pitch in St. George is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.

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