SAN LUIS OBISPO – Southern Utah returns home with three victories and two losses from the San Luis Obispo tournament after picking up wins over Cal Poly, Bryant University and the University of San Diego.
“The team has faced quite a bit of adversity over the past few weeks and this weekend we had so many players step up,” head coach Tom Gray said. “It would be hard to single out any one of them.”
Lyndsey Healey hit a single to score Kylee Wolf and give the Thunderbirds a 1-0 lead over Cal Poly in the third inning. Katie Greenberg scored in the top of the fourth to extend SUU's lead to two. Cal Poly snagged a run in the bottom of five to cut the gap to one before Wolf scored on an error to regain SUU's two-run lead. Cal Poly scored a final run as the Thunderbirds clenched the tournament-opening win, 3-2.
Southern Utah failed to keep the momentum rolling into its second game of the tournament as IUPUI snagged a 6-0 win over the Thunderbirds. SUU rounded out the game with just three hits.
Jordan Theurer connected for a single to push Kaitlin Williams home and give the Thunderbirds a 1-0 lead over the University of San Diego in the top of the first to open day-two of the tournament. Tanisha Anderson scored on a Sara Park single in the top of the sixth to build a 2-0 SUU lead before USD responded with a rally to take a 4-2 victory. Ashley Ostler pitched for the Thunderbirds.
The T-Birds took a 3-0 lead over the Bryant University in the bottom of the third to bounce back from their USD loss. Bryant put a run on the board in the top of the fifth before SUU rallied five runs in the bottom of the sixth to force the mercy rule and clench a 9-1 win. The Thunderbirds totaled 15 hits, eight RBI's and were guided from Hanna Wynn on the mound.
“I thought we pitched well enough to win both games. Both Ashley Ostler and Hanna Wynn were very good. The Bryant game is a good example of what we can do offensively when we are aggressive at the plate,” Gray commented. “I think we may have taken a step forward today.”
Southern Utah rounded out the tournament with a redemption victory over the University of San Diego. Greenberg knocked a homer to clench a 1-0 Thunderbird lead after two innings before Theurer, Greenberg and Kelli Hales scored to widen the lead to four. San Diego battled back with three runs in the top of the sixth to force a one-run game. The Thunderbirds held USD in the final inning to earn a 4-3 win.
“This was one of the best team wins I have been associated with. Katie Greenberg's first homerun of the year got our offense going,” Gray stated. “I really don't know where to stop. I could say something positive for everyone today.”
The Thunderbirds will take a week off before opening their home season with Utah State on Mar. 18 at 1 p.m.
