CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – Southern Utah opened its 2015 season by suffering losses to Wisconsin-Green Bay, the University of Northern Iowa, Drake and Iowa at the University of Northern Iowa Tournament.
Southern Utah opened the tournament with a 5-3 loss to Wisconsin-Green Bay. Southern Utah tacked up a run in the first inning to take the lead and held to it until Wisconsin-Green Bay rallied for two runs in the fourth. Wisconsin-Green Bay added a third run in the fifth with the Thunderbirds bouncing back with two runs to tie the game at three before WGB earned its fourth and fifth run in the sixth to push ahead, 5-3. The final inning was scoreless. Jordan Theurer led the Thunderbirds with three hits.
“We just did not execute with runners on base,” head coach Tom Gray explained. “It is a matter of having good timing and hitting good pitches. We didn't do either.”
The Thunderbirds suffered a second loss on their opening day of the season by falling to the University of Northern Iowa, 7-6. UNI exploded in the first and second innings to clench a 7-1 lead over Southern Utah. The Thunderbirds spent the remainder of the game fighting back, but fell just one run short. Kylee Wolf led SUU with two hits and two RBI's. Kaitlin Williams finished with three RBI's.
“We had a great first inning at the plate and on the bases. The University of Northern Iowa came out and took advantage of a couple of walks along with a well placed slap hit,” Gray said. “Their DH got a pitch out over the plate and made us pay for it. In the bottom half of the second we got back on our heels and gave them a couple of runs. After that I thought our team showed heart and really battled back. Hanna Wynn did a great job in relief.”
SUU fell short in its opening game of its second day of season play with an 8-0 loss to Drake. Drake was up just 1-0 to launch the fifth inning before tacking up two runs in the fifth and five in the sixth to earn the victory. Katie Greenberg and Hanna Wynn were on the mound for the Thunderbirds. Greenberg pitched three strikeouts.
The T-Birds rounded out the University of Northern Iowa Tournament with a 2-0 loss to the University of Iowa. Iowa scored its only two runs of the game in the opening inning before the remainder of the game was scoreless. Ashley Ostler was on the mound for Southern Utah.
“Ashley Ostler really stepped up and pitched a great game,” Gray commented. “We needed to play better behind her.”
Southern Utah will return home for a few days of practice before hitting the road for its second tournament of the season in San Diego where they will take on Cal State Bakersfield and Kent State on Feb. 13 before taking on the respective teams, once again on Feb. 14.
