Softball 4/1/2011 9:23:00 PM SUU Strategic Communication

SUU Softball Sweep Games on Day One of UVU Tournament

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah - April 1 - Southern Utah pushed its winning streak to five games with victories over Utah Valley and Northern Colorado on Friday afternoon. The Thunderbirds posted wins of 6-2 over UVU and 4-0 over UNC. The results improve the T-Birds to 14-18 on the year.

In game one, Southern Utah was behind early as Utah Valley loaded the bases in the first inning and ended the frame with a 2-0 lead on three hits and an SUU error. That margin held going into the top of the fifth inning when the Thunderbirds tallied three consecutive one-out hits, including an RBI triple by Jenavieve Purcell and an RBI single by Aly Daniels to tie the game at 2-2. A two-run home run by Darleen Fernandez two batters later gave the T-Birds their first lead of the game, 4-2.

A pair of two-out doubles by Southern Utah in the top of the seventh extended the lead to 6-2 as Fernandez and Heather Richardson each recorded RBI during the frame. That margin carried through the end of the seventh as SUU starter Heather Black earned her 11th victory of the year, throwing a complete game and allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits and two walks with seven strikeouts.

In the second game of the day a solo home run by Cordova in the bottom of the third inning gave Southern Utah a 1-0 lead and marked the freshman's first collegiate four bagger. The lead grew to 4-0 after the sixth inning as the T-Birds used three hits and a UNC error to tally three more runs. Brittany Henderson's double moved two runs across the plate during the frame as a ground ball scored the final run and punctuated the scoring on the day.

SUU starter Danielle Axe picked up her second consecutive victory of the season, throwing five shutout innings while allowing five hits and three walks with three strikeouts. Black entered the game in relief in the top of the sixth inning and pitched the final two frames to earn the save, allowing a single hit and two walks with four strikeouts.

The three teams will take to the field again tomorrow to finish out the two-day tournament with the Thunderbirds facing Northern Colorado at 9:00 a.m. and Utah Valley at 11:30 a.m. Each of the games will be played at the University of Utah as field renovations forced the tournament to be moved from the campus of UVU.

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Players Mentioned

#21 Danielle Axe: P; 5' 7"; Sophomore

#7 Heather Black: P; 5' 10"; Junior

#22 Aly Daniels: INF; 5' 6"; Senior

#9 Darleen Fernandez: INF/OF; 5' 4"; Senior

#18 Brittany Henderson: UT; 5' 3"; Senior

#2 Jenavieve Purcell: OF; 5' 7"; Senior

#3 Heather Richardson: UT; 5' 8"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#21 Danielle Axe
: 5' 7"; Sophomore
: P

#7 Heather Black
: 5' 10"; Junior
: P

#22 Aly Daniels
: 5' 6"; Senior
: INF

#9 Darleen Fernandez
: 5' 4"; Senior
: INF/OF

#18 Brittany Henderson
: 5' 3"; Senior
: UT

#2 Jenavieve Purcell
: 5' 7"; Senior
: OF

#3 Heather Richardson
: 5' 8"; Junior
: UT