Softball 4/14/2011 1:02:00 AM SUU Strategic Communication

Home Runs the Story as Thunderbirds and Red Storm Split

CEDAR CITY, Utah - April 13 - Southern Utah and Dixie State softball combined to hit five home runs on Wednesday afternoon in a doubleheader split. The Red Storm took game one, 7-3, with a grand slam, go-ahead home run in the top of the seventh inning with the Thunderbirds taking game two, 10-1, behind the strength of a six-run fourth inning. The results put the T-Birds at 19-22 on the year with road games at Oakland University this weekend.

"Our bats did some good things in that second game," head coach Kyle Magnusson said after the game. "We were up 3-2 with one out in the seventh in that first game and just need to do better in closing out games."

Southern Utah trailed 1-0 in game 1 as Dixie State scored the first run of the game on an RBI single in the top of the fourth inning. SUU came right back and tied the game at 1-1 with a solo home run off the bat of Madison Resley in the home half of the inning, but another run by the Red Storm in the fifth shifted the lead back to visitors, 2-1.

A second home run for Southern Utah in the bottom of the sixth inning, this time off the bat of Heather Richardson, gave the Thunderbirds two runs and a 3-2 lead going into the top of the seventh.

An opening ground ball put one out on the board, but SUU starting pitcher Heather Black then surrendered a single and two walks to load the bases. It wasn't the first time that the junior had the bases loaded in the game, dodging a bullet in the first inning with the bases loaded an no outs, but Black held the Red Storm scoreless in that inning. However, the seventh proved to be a different story as a grand slam home run put DSC up 6-3 with another run scoring on an RBI triple to put the game at 7-3.

Two ground balls in the bottom of the seventh put the T-Birds behind the eight ball, but Aly Daniels and Haylee Hoch got on base after being hit by pitches, putting runners on first and second. However, a final strikeout ended the game with the 7-3 defeat holding through the last out.

Game 2 proved to be a different story entirely as Southern Utah built a quick 4-0 lead with a pair of runs in the first and second innings. Resley drove in two runs on a double in the first with Daniels and Hoch recording an RBI double and single, respectively, in the second.

SUU starter Danielle Axe held the Red Storm scoreless through the first three innings before surrendering a run in the top of the fourth on an RBI single. Axe and the rest of the T-Bird defense made plays at just the right moment throughout the game as DSC stranded nine runners during the contest.

Southern Utah blew the game open in the bottom of the fourth, recording six runs on five hits, including back-to-back home runs off the bats and Resley and Richardson. Kadi Henderson narrowly missed hitting a ball over the wall despite strong winds that kept balls sailing, tallying a pinch hit double to center field during her at bat. Hoch and Richardson each notched two RBI in the frame with K. Henderson and Resley recording the others.

Axe retired the first two Red Storm batters in the fifth with a fly ball to left and a ground ball to the shortstop, but ran into a bit of trouble after a walk, fielding error and wild pitch put runners on second and third. A final ground ball to third wrapped up the game for the Thunderbirds as Southern Utah captured its first run-rule victory of the season, 10-1.

SUU will be back in action this weekend when the team resumes conference games, playing on the road at Oakland University in Rochester, Mich. The two teams will play a doubleheader on Friday with the first pitch scheduled for 1:00 p.m. and then wrap up the three-game set on Saturday at 10:00 a.m. Fans can follow the game with live stats anticipated to be available online at www.suutbirds.com.

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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

#5 Kadi Henderson: UT; 5' 3"; Freshman

#15 Haylee Hoch: 3B; 5' 9"; Junior

#00 Madison Resley: 1B; 5' 10"; Freshman

#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

#5 Kadi Henderson
: 5' 3"; Freshman
: UT

#15 Haylee Hoch
: 5' 9"; Junior
: 3B

#00 Madison Resley
: 5' 10"; Freshman
: 1B

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