ST. GEORGE, Utah. - The Southern Utah softball team dropped a pair of contests to Dixie State as part of a doubleheader that took place on the final day of a weather-shortened Dixie State Tournament in St. George, Utah. The T-Birds fell 11-9 in the first tilt before taking an 8-7 defeat to end the day. 

SUU had a never-say-die attitude today, fighting back from several deficits, but could not pull off one of their patented comebacks that have become a hallmark of this season thus far.

Josey White had a strong day at the plate, going 5-for-8 with 7 RBI and a homerun in the pair of games. Gianna Carosone was dangerous in the batter's box with a 5-for-7 day that produced 2 RBI and a homer. Makall Whetten also showed off her bat with a 3-for-6 outing that included 2 RBI and a homerun as well.

The day opened with a slugfest as the T-Birds dropped an 11-9 decision to Dixie State.  

White started scoring for the day, 1-0, with a single down the right-field line to bring home Dayna Hokanson in the first inning. 

Tied 1-1 in the second inning, Reilly Williams scored on a Skyler Ball groundout to put SUU up, 2-1. 

Down 7-2 after giving up four runs in the second and two in the third, the Thunderbirds continued their penchant for comebacks by piling on the runs in the fourth inning. Whetten started the rally with a bases-loaded walk to score Carosone to cut the gap to 7-3.  Hokanson followed up with a single up the middle to drive home Mikelle Magalogo to shrink the advantage to 7-4.  White knotted the score at 7-7 with a double to left center that cleared the bases.

After DSU tallied two runs in the fourth and two runs in the fifth to lead 11-7, the T-Birds mounted another comeback bid in the final two frames.  Whetten went yard in the sixth with a solo shot to left field to shave the DSU lead to 11-8 before Magalogo pushed Carosone home with a double to left field in the seventh to close out scoring 11-9.

The second game proved to be a back-and-forth affair with SUU coming up just short, 8-7.  

With Dixie State up 3-0 heading into the fourth inning, Makenzie Ball singled to right field to drive home Carosone and Dream Weaver to cut the lead to 3-2. 

Down 5-2 in the fifth, SUU strung together some strong at-bats to take a 6-5 lead.  White hammered a pitch over the right center wall to shave the advantage to 5-4, before Carosone also connected with a two-run shot to left field to take a 6-5 lead.

DSU countered in the bottom of the fifth to retake the lead, 7-6, before White knotted the score at 7-7 with a double to right center to bring home Hokanson.

Next up for the Thunderbirds is the Grand Canyon Invitational in Phoenix, Ariz.  SUU will play New Mexico State and the host Antelopes on March 19 before playing the same pair of teams on March 20.  The T-Birds will close out the three-day stint with a game against GCU once again. 

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