PROVO – The Thunderbirds snapped Brigham Young's 10-game winning streak in their second matchup of the double-header with an 11-8 victory. The Cougars clenched the first game, 5-1. Sara Park led the way for the Thunderbirds in their game two victory with five RBIs, including the game-winning grand slam in the top of the seventh inning.
The win marks history as Southern Utah's first victory against BYU in 23 appearances.
“We brought a great attitude and approach to both games today. I loved our fight,” head coach Tom Gray commented. “I have to point out what a warrior Ashley Ostler was tonight (pitching the second game). Everyone contributed and it was a great day for us as a team.”
Southern Utah loaded the bases in the top of the third with one out as Kylee Wolf doubled down the left field line, Park singled to left field, and Lyndsey Healey walked. The Thunderbirds suffered two-straight strikeouts to exit the inning scoreless.
SUU held Brigham Young in the bottom of the third to enter the fourth inning tied at zero. Katie Greenberg and Amanda Cook each nailed hits in the top of the fourth but Southern Utah couldn't manage to bring them home, resulting in another scoreless inning.
The opening of the sixth inning remained tied at zero before Greenberg nailed a home run over center field to put the first run of the game on the board and capture the lead over the Cougars, 1-0.
Brigham Young quickly responded with a rally in the bottom of six, including back-to-back Cougar doubles, to pass the Thunderbirds for a 5-1 lead.
Wolf singled to the pitcher to open the seventh before Healey reached on a fielder's choice to advance Wolf to second. Kaitlin Williams singled to shortstop to load the bases with one out before the T-Birds endured back-to-back strikeouts to round out the game, falling to BYU, 1-5.
Greenberg pitched six strikeouts in the loss.
The Thunderbirds took an early lead in their second game against BYU with a three-run third inning. Kelli Hales singled to right center to open the rally before Dumas grounded out to push Hales to second. Greenberg walked before Cook connected for a double down the left field line to score Greenberg and Hales for two RBI. Park doubled to score Cook and extend SUU's lead to three to round out the inning.
Williams homered over the left field fence in the top of the third to give Southern Utah a four-run lead before the Cougars answered with two runs in the bottom of three to cut the gap to two.
Cook singled to reach first base in the top of the fourth inning before Wolf walked to push Cook to second. Park reached on a fielder's choice to load the bases before Healey walked to score Cook and set the score at 5-2. BYU took a six-run, two-out rally in the bottom of six to take its first lead of the game at 8-5.
Southern Utah responded as Jordan Theurer singled down the left field line, and Hales and Dumas singled to shortstop to load the bases. Greenberg grounded out to score Theurer and creep within two runs of Brigham Young. Cook walked to reload the bases before Wolf singled to third base to score Hales and keep the bases loaded. Park stepped to the plate with two outs and bases loaded as she knocked a grand slam to clench a three-run lead over the Cougars.
The Thunderbirds held the Cougars in the bottom of the seventh to seal the 11-8 victory.
Park led the Thunderbirds with five RBIs. Park, Hales, and Cook finished with two hits each. Ostler led Southern Utah from the circle as the Thunderbirds finished with 11 hits.
Southern Utah returns to Big Sky play by taking on Montana in a three-game conference series.
