CEDAR CITY, Utah - The Southern Utah University softball team held multi-run leads in two of the three games across the weekend series against Idaho State; but, the T-birds were unable to pick up any victories, as they fell in three straight contests to the Bengals.

Game One

Payton Goodrich received the start on the mound for the T-Birds in the series-opener and retired the first three ISU batters she faced, including two strikeouts.

The Thunderbirds failed to get anything going in their first at-bat, and the game entered the second inning yet to see a baserunner from either team.

After Goodrich retired the first two batters she saw in the top of the second, Morgan Hess earned a walk, giving the Bengals their first baserunner of the game. After an error in the next at-bat put two runners on, Goodrich forced Isabella Han into a groundout to end the frame.

Idaho State ace Haley Rainey forced another three up, three down in the bottom of the second, as the T-Birds struggled offensively to start the game.

The pitchers' duel continued in the third, as Goodrich maintained her no-hitter through the top of the inning. 

Sophia Masut drew a two-out walk in the bottom of the third; but, a groundout ended the next at-bat, and Rainey maintained her own no-hitter heading into the fourth.

Goodrich continued her outstanding pitching in the top of the fourth, allowing no hits and retiring three out of the first four batters she faced.

The Thunderbirds broke through on offense in their fourth at-bat, as Jayne Sepulveda reached on an error to lead off the inning. 

Two batters later, Reilly Williams laced a triple down the right-field line, scoring Sepulveda and giving the T-Birds their first lead.

After a lineout to center field, Capri Franzen managed to reach on an error and bring Williams home, extending the SUU lead to 2-0.

Makenna Calderon then reached second base on another ISU error, and Franzen advanced to third, putting two runners in scoring position with two outs.

Amyah Boostedt dug in next and poked a single out to center field to bring both runners home and make the score 4-0 Southern Utah. 

Sophia Masut singled in the next at-bat, putting runners on first and second; but, a groundout ended the huge inning for the Thunderbirds.

The Bengals lineup finally got going in the top of the fifth, scoring four runs of their own off a grand slam from Angelica Cano.

Reilly Williams had her second hit of the game in the bottom of the fifth; but, SUU was unable to capitalize, as the score remained 4-4 entering the sixth frame.

ISU plated two more runs on two hits in the top of the sixth to take their first lead of the game.

Boostedt collected her second hit of the game in the bottom of the frame, putting a runner on first with two outs. Sophia Masut followed with a single of her own to put two on with two outs. Unfortunately, a groundout in the next at-bat ended the inning for the T-Birds.

After a scoreless trip to the plate for ISU, the game entered the bottom of the seventh with Southern Utah still trailing 6-4.

Jayne Sepulveda led off for SUU in their final at-bat and smashed a single to right field. Following a flyout to left field, Reilly Williams knocked a single through the infield, tallying her third hit of the contest and moving Sepulveda to second.

A wild pitch in the next at-bat allowed both runners to advance with Dream Weaver up at the plate.

Weaver grounded out to second base but brought Sepulveda home and advanced Williams to third, making it 6-5. A groundout in the next at-bat ended the rally and the game, as Idaho State claimed a one-run victory in the front end of Saturday's doubleheader.

Game Two

The T-Birds struggled to get going offensively in Game Two against ISU pitcher Emma McMurray, failing to pick up a hit until the fifth frame.

ISU was able to pick up three runs in the second, one in the third, and two in the fourth, as they built a 6-0 lead through the first four frames.

They added one more run in the sixth, making it 7-0 entering the final inning.

The Thunderbirds attempted to rally in their final at-bat, tallying four hits and plating two runs; but,  McMurray was able to get out of the jam. She went on to pick up the complete-game win, and the Bengals took Game Two, 7-2.

Game Three

Payton Goodrich started again on the mound for SUU in Game Three, battling back from a leadoff triple to retire three straight batters and keep ISU scoreless in their first at-bat.

Jayne Sepulveda kicked things off with a bang for SUU, launching her third home run of the season to lead off the bottom half of the first inning.

Makall Whetten was then hit by a pitch for the conference-leading 13th time, and two batters later Dream Weaver smacked a triple down the left-field line, advancing Whetten to third. A sacrifice bunt laid to perfection by Makenna Calderon brought Whetten home to make it 2-0 Southern Utah.

Capri Franzen followed by lacing a single to right field, bringing Weaver home and extending Southern Utah's lead to 3-0.

After a scoreless second inning, the Bengals responded in the top of the third in the form of six runs to take a 6-3 lead.

Dream Weaver led off the bottom of the third by tallying her second hit of the game in as many at-bats to give SUU a leadoff baserunner.

Weaver was able to advance two bases on a wild pitch and passed ball in the next two pitches. Makenna Calderon singled to bring Weaver home and cut the ISU lead to 6-4.

The Thunderbirds got another run back in the bottom of the fourth frame, as Weaver collected her third hit of the day and brought Sophia Masut home from third. 

The Bengals extended their lead to 7-5 in the fifth, and both teams went scoreless for the rest of the contest, as Idaho State earned the sweep for the weekend.

Up Next

Southern Utah will return to the diamond this Wednesday, April 27, when they will host in-state foe BYU. First pitch is scheduled for 3 PM MT, and the game will be available for viewing on ESPN+.

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