Softball 3/24/2012 10:54:00 PM SUU Strategic Communication

Thunderbirds Score Seven Ninth Inning Runs in 11-6 Victory

MACOMB, Ill. - March 24 - Southern Utah University softball scored three runs in the top of the sixth to tie the game and then used seven runs in the top of the ninth to capture an 11-6 victory against Western Illinois on Saturday. The win prevented a series sweep against the Leathernecks and moved the T-Birds to 16-13 overall and 6-3 in Summit League play.

Western Illinois put the first lights on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first, but the run was answered by Southern Utah in the top of the second. Haylee Hoch and Kadi Henderson hit back-to-back doubles in the frame to tie the game at 1-1 with Henderson recording the RBI.

The Leathernecks broke the tie with a run in the bottom of the third and extended the lead to three (4-1) with two runs in the bottom of the fifth. However, Southern Utah answered and opened the top of the sixth with a double off the bat of Mikkel Griffin and the junior used it to manufacture the first of three runs in the frame. Griffin came around to score on a wild pitch with Hoch tallying an RBI single and Mallory Wilkinson drawing a bases loaded walk for the other runs in the inning.

Neither team was able to generate runs in the seventh, forcing extra innings with the game extending into the ninth. Southern Utah quickly loaded the bases in the frame as Wilkinson was hit in the lead-off spot with Tessa Loewen and Griffin following with a walk and single. Kelsey Bryant then came to the plate and brought home the first and second of seven runs for the T-Birds on a two-run single. Terysa Dyer followed with an RBI single and she was followed by a walk drawn by Madison Resley to load the bases for the second time.

A grand slam off the bat of Haylee Hoch cleared the bases and capped Southern Utah's scoring during the afternoon, giving the T-Birds an 11-4 advantage. Western Illinois finished the game with a pair of runs in the home half of the inning for the eventual final score of 11-6.

Heather Black bounced back in the circle for Southern Utah after suffering a pair of losses yesterday to earn the victory on Saturday, throwing 8.0 innings where she allowed six runs (one earned) on seven hits and one walk with five strikeouts.

SUU will be back in action next week with five games scheduled at Kathryn Berg Field with the T-Birds set to face UNLV in a doubleheader on Wednesday followed by a three-game series with UMKC on Friday and Saturday. Fans can follow each of the games via a live stats link that is anticipated to be available online at www.suutbirds.com.

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