Softball 4/3/2013 1:28:00 AM SUU Strategic Communication

SUU Drops Two to Dixie State

CEDAR CITY, Utah, April 2 – Southern Utah (9-25, 3-3 BSC) suffered two more setbacks during a two-game trip to Dixie State (28-11) on Tuesday afternoon. The Thunderbirds saw the Red Storm take a 4-3 walk-off victory in the opener before giving up a 17-6 decision in the follow-up game.

Dixie State recorded the first run of the day when Anna Cue crossed the plate on a wild pitch in the second inning. SUU came back to take the lead as Kadi Henderson drove a ball over the wall in right center for her sixth home run of the year, but the Red Storm added two more scores of their own in the bottom half of the frame to go back in front 3-2.

The Thunderbirds evened things up in their next turn at the plate after Henderson added her third RBI with a base hit back up the middle. Mikkel Griffin came around from second on the play and made a diving slide in attempt to score the go-ahead run but was called out in a close play at the plate.

The game remained tied until the seventh inning when, with runners on first and second and two outs as well as an 0-2 count, Dixie State shortstop Johnna Brown pulled a ball down the left field line for a game-clinching RBI double.

Ariel Zimmerman (6-14) racked up seven strikeouts while tossing another complete game for SUU but was charged with the loss after surrendering four runs on eight hits. Kate Coffey (6-4) earned the win for DSU with one scoreless inning of relief.

SUU broke through for four runs in the opening inning of the second contest, three of which came when Madison Resley collected her fourth home run of the season with a deep shot to centerfield. Dixie State got all four runs back on a grand slam from Courtney Sherwin in the bottom half of the first to even things up at 4-4.

The Red Storm would pull ahead with eight runs in the third including a three-run homer from Nicole Chavez and another three-run blast off the bat off Autumn Woodfall. Kylee Wolf and Griffin drove in back-to-back scores to narrow the deficit but the home team put up five more scores in bottom of the fourth to set the final margin 17-6 in five innings.

Kelsey Bryant made her first career start in the circle for SUU but pitched just a third of an inning before being replaced by Ashley Ostler (1-4) who went the final 3.2 innings and gave up 13 runs, only four of were earned, on 14 hits. Coffey (7-4) picked up her second win of the day for DSU after allowing four runs on five hits over three innings.

Henderson went 3-3 in the opening matchup and drove in three runs and scored another. Griffin then went 2-2 in the second outing while Resley chipped in three more RBI.

SUU returns to conference play this weekend, hosting a three-game series against Sacramento State. Play will open with a doubleheader at noon on Friday, then finish up with another single game on Saturday at 12 p.m. Coverage of SUU softball is available on www.suutbirds.com.

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