Softball 4/12/2012 4:28:00 AM SUU Strategic Communication

SUU Softball Complete Season Sweep of UNLV

LAS VEGAS, Nev. - Southern Utah University softball used a pair of big innings in each game on Wednesday night to record a season sweep against UNLV with victories of 8-4 and 11-10. The Thunderbirds scored six runs in the fifth inning in game one and nine runs in the third in game two to propel the team to the victories.

In game one, Southern Utah trailed UNLV until the fifth inning when the Thunderbirds exploded for their six runs in the frame on four hits and two Rebel errors. Griffin began the scoring with a two-run home run and a third run would cross the plate three batters later on an RBI single by Madison Resley, putting runners on the corners. A second home run in the frame, this time a three-run dinger off the bat of Kadi Henderson, capped Southern Utah's runs in the inning and gave the T-Birds a 7-3 lead.

Prior to SUU's fifth, UNLV opened the game with runs in the bottom of the second and fourth, taking a 3-1 lead. The Thunderbirds began their scoring on the day with an RBI single by Kelsey Bryant in the top of the third.

UNLV tacked on its final run in the bottom of the fifth on a lead-off home run by Pauline Monreal and was unable to advance a runner past second base over the final two innings. Southern Utah recorded its final run on Griffin's second home run of the contest as the junior led off the sixth with a big fly over the right field fence.

Heather Black earned the victory in the circle for Southern Utah, throwing a complete game where she allowed four runs (two earned) on nine hits and two walks with four strikeouts.

Southern Utah survived a late rally by UNLV in game two after racing to a 10-0 lead before the Rebels even put lights on the board. The T-Birds scored a run in the first on a UNLV error and then erupted for nine runs in the top of the third. SUU loaded the bases in the third before an out was recorded and after a pair of RBI singles by Terysa Dyer and Madison Resley, still had the bases loaded and a 3-0 lead.

Henderson then stepped to the plate and cleared the bases with a grand slam down the left field line and a three-run home run by Tessa Loewen a few batters later gave the Thunderbirds a 10-0 advantage.

UNLV answered with three runs in the bottom of the third, but a sacrifice fly by Megan Gurski in the fourth gave the T-Birds an eight-point buffer, 11-3. However, the Rebels made a late push with seven unanswered runs down the stretch, making the game a nail biter until the final out was recorded. The final out in the seventh actually had to be recorded twice after Heather Black came on in relief for SUU with a runner on first in the stanza and struck out a UNLV batter with two outs on the board, only to have the ball squirt away from Marqi Gray who was behind the plate.

The wild pitch allowed the runner to advance to first and scored a runner from third, bringing the game to within one run at 11-10. A deep fly ball to right field that was caught on the warning track by Griffin ended the game a batter later with the T-Birds holding on for the 11-10 victory.

Danielle Axe, throwing 2.1 innings of relief for Southern Utah, was awarded the win in game two, despite allowing four runs on six hits and one walk with one strikeout.

SUU will remain on the road for the rest of the week, traveling to Fort Wayne, Indiana to face IPFW in a three-game Summit League series on Friday and Saturday. The teams will play a doubleheader on Friday with the series finale on Saturday morning. Fans can follow the games via a live stat link that is anticipated to be available online at www.suutbirds.com.

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Players Mentioned

#21 Danielle Axe: P; 5' 8"; Junior

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

#23 Kelsey Bryant: INF; 5' 11"; Junior

#12 Terysa Dyer: UT; 5' 8"; Sophomore

#44 Marqi Gray: C; 5' 9"; Junior

#8 Megan Gurski: P; 5' 8"; Freshman

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

#14 Tessa Loewen: INF; 5' 3"; Freshman

#00 Madison Resley: 1B; 5' 11"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

#21 Danielle Axe
: 5' 8"; Junior
: P

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

#23 Kelsey Bryant
: 5' 11"; Junior
: INF

#12 Terysa Dyer
: 5' 8"; Sophomore
: UT

#44 Marqi Gray
: 5' 9"; Junior
: C

#8 Megan Gurski
: 5' 8"; Freshman
: P

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

#14 Tessa Loewen
: 5' 3"; Freshman
: INF

#00 Madison Resley
: 5' 11"; Sophomore
: 1B