Softball 4/2/2011 9:17:00 PM SUU Strategic Communication

Southern Utah Runs Winning Streak to Seven

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah - April 2 - Southern Utah softball ran its winning streak to seven games with victories of 4-2 and 5-4 over Northern Colorado and Utah Valley, respectively, on Saturday afternoon. The wins improve the Thunderbirds to 16-18 on the year.

In game one, Southern Utah fell behind early as Northern Colorado scored two runs in the bottom of the first. The Thunderbirds chipped into the deficit with an RBI single in the third and sacrifice fly ball in the fourth to tie the game at 2-2.

Darleen Fernandez broke the deadlock in the top of the fifth with a two-run home run, scoring Aly Daniels from an earlier single to give Southern Utah the 4-2 lead. SUU threatened again in the top of the seventh with a pair of singles off the bats of Cora Cordova and Sami Parry to start the frame. However, nothing came of the base knocks as a pair of ground balls and a strikeout ended the inning.

Northern Colorado also tallied a pair of singles in the home half of the seventh, but SUU starter Heather Black closed out the game with a pair of strikeouts and a game-ending ground ball to seal the 4-2 victory for the T-Birds. The win marked Black's 12th of the season, throwing a complete game and allowing two runs on six hits and two walks with seven strikeouts.

In game two, Southern Utah took an early 4-0 lead with a two-run single in the top of the second and a two-run home run in the top of the third. Brittany Henderson was credited with the RBI in the second as Fernandez recorded her second home run of the day with the runs in the third.

Utah Valley came back to tie the game at 4-4 with an RBI single in the fifth and three runs on six hits in the bottom of the sixth. However, a two-out double by Daniels in the seventh put a runner in scoring position for the T-Birds and Haylee Hoch drove in the run one batter later to give the T-Birds the 5-4 lead.

Black entered the circle in the bottom of the seventh and retired the side in order for her second save of the tournament and to seal the victory for Southern Utah. Bubba Kearns was awarded the victory after throwing one out of relief in the sixth.

Southern Utah will return to action on Wednesday when the Thunderbirds face Brigham Young University in a doubleheader in Provo. First pitch of the two-game set is scheduled for 5:00 p.m.

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Players Mentioned

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

#1 Cora Cordova: INF; 5' 5"; Freshman

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

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

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

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

Players Mentioned

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

#1 Cora Cordova
: 5' 5"; Freshman
: INF

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

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

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

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