Thunderbird Softball Drops Doubleheader in Kansas City

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - May 7 - Southern Utah softball was swept in a conference series for the first time this season as the Thunderbirds suffered defeats of 4-1 and 5-1 at UMKC on Saturday afternoon. The losses drop the T-Birds to 24-31 on the year and 14-10 in league play which will put SUU as the No. 4 seed going into the Summit League tournament next weekend.

UMKC opened the scoring in game one with a run in the bottom of the second inning, but the run was matched by Southern Utah in the top of the third. Sophomore Nicole Huntsman drilled a lead-off double off the wall and was brought home three batters later on a Heather Richardson RBI double.

However, the Kangaroos came right back and tacked on three more runs in the home half of the inning on a three-run home run over the fence in right. Starting pitchers, Heather Black for SUU and Deanna Friese for UMKC, then kept hitters at bay as the score of 4-1 held through the final out.

In game two, Southern Utah put the first lights on the board as senior Aly Daniels made the most of a wild pitch from UMKC starter Emily Ott, scoring from third. The advantage held until the next frame when the Kangaroos hit a two-run single up the middle to take the 2-1 lead. Two more runs crossed the plate for the Kangaroos in the bottom of the fifth with the final 'Roo run crossing in the bottom of the sixth, making the score 5-1 on the final out.

Thunderbird freshman Terysa Dyer proved to be a highlight during the game, knocking two doubles and drawing a walk during her three trips to the plate. Richardson, batting lead-off, also went a perfect 2-for-2 during the game in the defeat.

Southern Utah will open the Summit League tournament next Thursday, May 12, facing the UMKC Kangaroos with the first pitch scheduled for 11:00 a.m. (MT). Fans can follow the games online with live stats anticipated to be available on www.suutbirds.com.

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