Softball 3/5/2012 4:09:00 AM SUU Strategic Communication

SUU Softball Sweeps Santa Clara with 8-2 Victory

SAN JOSE, Calif. - March 4 - Katie Olinger recorded four RBI on the day as Southern Utah University swept the Santa Clara Broncos on the weekend with an 8-2 victory on Sunday morning. The victory moves the T-Birds to 10-7 on the year heading into the beginning of conference play next weekend.

SUU opened the game with a pair of runs in the top of the second and third, building a quick 4-0 lead out of the gates. Olinger tallied two of her four RBI on the day with a two-run double in the second, scoring Terysa Dyer on third and Madison Resley on second. An RBI single by Kelsey Bryant and sacrifice fly by Resley in the fifth accounted for the Thunderbird runs in that inning.

SCU scored a run in the bottom of the third on a two-out single and put the score at 4-1 before two more runs by the T-Birds in the fifth extended the lead to five, 6-1. Southern Utah had the bases loaded with two outs on the board when Olinger stepped to the plate and laced a single to right center to mark her third and fourth RBI of the contest.

A lead-off double for Santa Clara in the sixth led to a single run a batter later on an RBI single, making the game 6-2. However, back-to-back doubles off the bats of Dyer and Resley in the seventh led to two more runs for the Thunderbirds in the frame. The 8-2 advantage held through the final half inning as Ashley Ostler wrapped up the game for Southern Utah with a one-two-three inning.

SUU starter Danielle Axe earned the victory for the Thunderbirds in the circle to push her record to 3-2 on the year after 5.0 innings where she allowed one earned run on eight hits with no walks and two strikeouts. Ostler finished her day throwing the final two innings for SUU, allowing one earned run on two hits with no walks and one strikeout.

Five Thunderbirds recorded multiple hits, including Tessa Loewen, Mikkel Griffin, Bryant, Dyer and Olinger each tallying two hits in the game. Resley was a perfect 1-for-1 with two runs, two RBI and two walks.

Southern Utah will return to Cedar City for its next series when the Thunderbirds open Summit League play hosting Oakland University at Kathryn Berg field next weekend. The teams will play a doubleheader on Friday, beginning at Noon with a single game set for Saturday at Noon. Fans unable to attend the games can watch live stats anticipated to be available online at www.suutbirds.com.

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