PALM SPRINGS, Calif. - The Southern Utah University softball team played their final game at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic Sunday afternoon, falling to Loyola Marymount, 11-5.

The Thunderbirds (1-14, 0-0) fell behind early, giving up one run in the first and six in the second, as the Lions jumped out to a 7-0 lead.

Needing a response in the top of the third, Madison Sanders singled to right field, giving the T-Birds their first hit of the contest. Two batters later, Jayne Sepulveda came through for Southern Utah, cranking a 1-0 pitch over the center field wall for the first home run of her college career.

After a scoreless at-bat for the Lions, the T-Birds were able to start the top of the fourth off with back-to-back walks by Makall Whetten and Reilly Williams. After an infield fly, Makenna Calderon stepped up to bat and crushed a double to right center, bringing Whetten home and cutting the LMU lead down to 7-3. 

The Lions got one run back in the fifth, making it an 8-3 ballgame going into the sixth. 

Makall Whetten started off the inning with a double to right field, and two batters later Dream Weaver earned a walk to put two runners on. With two outs, Amyah Boostedt hit a clutch single to score Whetten, and advance Weaver to third. Weaver scored on the nex at-bat, but Boostedt was thrown out trying to reach third base, ending the inning.

The T-Birds failed to score in their final at-bat, as the Lions went on to win the game. 

Grace Owen received the loss on the mound for SUU, pitching eight innings while allowing 13 hits and 11 runs.

Southern Utah will return to action this Wednesday when they travel to St. George to face rival Dixie State at 4:00 p.m. MT.

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