OGDEN, Utah – Southern Utah bounced back from falling to Weber in its opening two games of its three-game series by taking an 8-5 series closing game victory over the Wildcats.
Kylee Wolf led the Thunderbirds with three hits as Sara Park, Taylor Dumas and Tanisha Anderson each contributed two hits in the win.
“Today we made adjustments and kept Weber from having a big inning,” head coach Tom Gray said. “I thought it was an excellent team win. I'm very proud of how the team stepped up today.”
Weber State scored a run in the bottom of the first to take an early lead before the Thunderbirds quickly responded with a rally in the top of two to push by the Wildcats. Jordan Theurer homered to open the inning for Southern Utah before a pitch hit Katie Greenberg and Anderson singled to left field to keep the rally going. Wolf singled before Southern Utah took advantage of Wildcat errors to score Anderson and Greenberg and clench a 3-1 lead over Weber State.
The Wildcats answered with three runs in the bottom of the second to regain their lead at 4-3. The third inning was scoreless from both teams before Southern Utah tacked up a run in the top of the fourth to tie the game at four.
The game tied up as Anderson knocked a single to get on base before Wolf hit a single to push Anderson to third. Anderson scored on a wild pitch to tie the game in the top of the fourth.
Both teams sat at four to enter the fifth inning before Kaitlin Williams nailed a homer to give Southern Utah the lead. The Thunderbirds held to their lead before an unearned Wildcat run in the bottom of the sixth tied up the game, once again.
Southern Utah wrapped up the game with a clutch seventh-inning rally to snag the final game victory over the Wildcats. Dumas singled to left field to get the Thunderbirds started before Greenberg was beaned for a second time and Anderson reached on an error to score Dumas. Park doubled to right center with two outs to score Anderson and Greenberg and capture a three-run lead over Weber State.
The Thunderbirds held the Wildcats in the bottom of the seventh to seal an 8-5 victory.
Southern Utah concluded the game with two errors and 12 hits.
SUU will break from Big Sky play to take on BYU on Apr. 16 before returning to conference play with a series with Montana on Apr. 18 & 19.
