CEDAR CITY, Utah - The Southern Utah softball team will host their second consecutive home Big Sky series this weekend as they welcome in the Montana Grizzlies on Friday April 13.
Last Time Out
Last weekend the Thunderbirds hosted North Dakota for a three-game series in which they were able to take one win from the Fighting Hawks. That win came in game one behind a three-hit shutout from Haley Wall and RBIs from Sarah Murphy and Kalei Watkins. Samantha Guile pitched 8.1 innings of relief throughout the series, allowing just three earned runs and striking out eight Fighting Hawks.
The Thunderbirds also traveled to Salt Lake City on Tuesday for a single game with the Utah Utes. They were not able to come away with a win, falling 9-0 in five innings. Nicole Simonson had the only hit in the game for the Thunderbirds, a bunt single in the third inning.
So far this season, the Thunderbirds lead the Big Sky with 14 home runs in conference games, while coming in second in batting average (.320), slugging percentage (.593), on base percentage (.384), hits (74) and RBI (49).
Big Sky Player of the Week
For the second week in a row, a Thunderbird was named Softball Player of the Week in the Big Sky Conference. Southern Utah senior Sarah Murphy picked up the award for her performance against North Dakota over the weekend.
Murphy hit .625 (5-for-8) with two home runs, two doubles, five runs scored, and three RBIs during the series with the Fighting Hawks. Murphy is currently on an eight-game hitting streak, during which time she has picked up 13 hits and raised her batting average from a .410 to a .448. She has at least one hit in every Big Sky game the Thunderbirds have played this season except for one.
Scouting Report: Montana Grizzlies (16-22, 4-5 BSC)
The reigning Big Sky Conference Tournament champion Montana Grizzlies will come into the weekend with a 16-22 overall record under first year head coach Melanie Meuchel. After sweeping Idaho State to begin conference play, the Griz have won just one of their last six games.
Ashlyn Lyons leads the Grizzlies offensively, hitting .354 in 113 at bats this season. The senior is ranked third in the Big Sky with her .354 average. Michaela Hood has been the go to in the circle, appearing in 22 games with a 2.85 ERA.
Game Info
Friday's doubleheader is set to begin at 1:00 p.m. at Kathryn Berg Field. The second game will begin about 35 minutes after the end of the first. The series will wrap up on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.
A live stream of all three games will be available on PlutoTV channel 236 and live stats will be available at suutbirds.com.
Follow Us
Stay up to date throughout the 2018 Thunderbird softball season by following @SUUSoftball on Twitter and Instagram and liking the Southern Utah Softball page on Facebook.
