SAN DIEGO, Calif. - Jayne Sepulveda, Sophia Masut, and Makall Whetten all tallied two hits apiece, and Keimon Winston had her best performance on the mound all season, as the Southern Utah University softball team picked up their first victory of the season in their final game at the Campbell/Cartier Classic, beating Army by a score of 5-1.

Sepulveda started off the day with a single in the games first at-bat. Two batters later, Josey white earned a walk, and with two outs in the top of the first, Whetten stepped up to the plate and cranked a double to right-center, scoring both runners to take a 2-0 lead. 

The Black Knights were able to produce a run in the bottom of the first, but that proved to be the only time an Army player crossed home plate all game. Winston and Grace Owen combined to allow nine hits and one run for the contest.

Winston had her best performance of the young season, pitching the first 4.2 innings and only allowing one run, while Owen had a dominant performance in relief of the freshman, allowing only two hits over the final 2.1 innings of play.

After a quiet second inning at the plate, the Thunderbird offense got going again in the top of the third. Sepulveda once again started the inning off with a hit, this time smashing a double to center field. After a Reilly Williams walk, and a fielders choice in the next at-bat, a wild pitch allowed Sepulveda to cross the plate for her second run of the game.

Following a scoreless at-bat for the Black Knights in the bottom of the fourth, Dream Weaver drew a lead-off walk for SUU in the fifth. Four at-bats later, Williams singled to left field to bring Weaver home and take a commanding 4-1 lead in the game. 

In the top of the sixth, Weaver once again led off the inning by reaching first base, this time hitting a single to left field. In the next at-bat, Riley Shue entered the game for SUU as a pinch-hitter. After watching the first pitch of the at-bat, Shue smoked a triple down the right-field line, adding another insurance run for Southern Utah and pushing the lead to 5-1.

Owen took over from there, shutting down the Army offense over the final two innings and securing the victory for the Thunderbirds.

Notable Stats

• Makall Whetten was 2-3 at the plate with two doubles, two RBI, and one walk
• The freshman duo of Jayne Sepulveda and Sophia Masut combined to go 4-7 at the plate.
• Dream Weaver went 1-2 at the plate, drawing a walk and scoring two runs.
• Keimon Winston earned the first win of her college career on the mound.

Next Up

Southern Utah will be on the road next weekend, heading to Palm Springs, California to participate in the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic. The T-birds will play five games throughout the weekend, kicking things off with a game against California Riverside. First pitch is slated for Friday, February 25 at 1:30 PM MT.

Stay up to date on the Thunderbird Softball season by following @SUUSoftball on Twitter and Instagram and liking the Southern Utah Softball page on Facebook

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