Softball 3/10/2011 1:55:00 AM SUU Strategic Communication

Slow Starts Spell Defeat for Thunderbird Softball

ST. GEORGE, Utah - March 9 - Southern Utah University softball couldn't overcome slow starts in a pair of games against the University of Utah on Wednesday afternoon, falling 5-3 and 10-1. The losses drop the T-Birds to 5-14 overall with the team set to open Summit League play this weekend.

The Utes opened the first inning in game one with three consecutive hits, allowing the first run to cross home plate. However, SUU starting pitcher Heather Black looked like she found her groove, striking out the next two batters before Utah recording a two-out, two-run single to stretch the game to 3-0.

Southern Utah chipped into the lead in the home half of the frame as a pair of Utah errors led to the Thunderbirds' first run of the game, cutting the lead to 3-1. An SUU error in the third led to a run for the Utes while the T-Birds looked primed to score in the bottom of the frame as Aly Daniels capitalized on a Utah fielding error to reach third base as the lead-off hitter. The threat did not lead to any runs as Utah starter Generra Nielson struck out the side to get out of the jam.

A solo home run for the Utes in the top of the seventh increased the lead to 5-1. In the home half of the inning, Jenavieve Purcell led off the frame with a single and came around to score on a two-run home run by Daniels, but the run ended there as the Thunderbirds suffered the 5-3 defeat.

Southern Utah left eight runners on base during the game as Neilson kept the Thunderbirds at bay with 11 strikeouts during the contest.

SUU got out to a slow start again in game two as Utah scored three runs on three T-Bird errors over the first and second innings to take an early 3-0 lead. An RBI single in the fifth and solo home run in the sixth stretch the lead to 5-0 before Southern Utah put its first lights on the board.

Cora Cordova, Purcell and Daniels opened the sixth with a trio of singles to load the bases with no outs. Despite the good fortune, the Thunderbirds were only able to muster one run as a strikeout and ground ball ended the inning with a single RBI on a sacrifice fly.

Utah sealed the victory in the final frame with five runs on five hits, including three home runs as SUU was retired in order in the bottom of the seventh to punctuate the 10-1 defeat.

Southern Utah will be back in action this weekend, opening Summit League play when the Thunderbirds host the IPFW Mastodons on Friday and Saturday. The games will also be played at Dixie State College as spring snow is likely to linger in Cedar City. Game times for the contests are scheduled for 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. on Friday with the final game of the three-game set scheduled for Noon on Saturday.

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