CEDAR CITY, Utah - The Southern Utah University softball team fell to Dixie State by a final score of 10-2 in their final contest of the 2022 season at Kathryn Berg Field. The T-Birds will close out the season this weekend, traveling to California to face Sacramento State in a three-game series.

Payton Goodrich started in the circle for the Thunderbirds and retired the first three batters she faced.

Dixie State ace Kate Dolinski got the nod to start for the Trailblazers, matching Goodrich with a three up, three down of her own in the bottom of the first frame.

Two SUU errors combined with two hits in the top of the second allowed Dixie State to plate two runs, taking their first lead of the game.

Capri Franzen earned the first hit of the game for Southern Utah in the bottom of the second, smashing a single up the middle. Riley Shue was hit by a pitch with two outs to put two runners on for SUU; but, a strikeout in the next at-bat ended the inning. 

After a scoreless third at-bat for Dixie State, Sophia Masut reached on an error to lead off the bottom of the third. Reilly Williams cranked a one-out double off the right-field wall, bringing Masut home from first and cutting the DSU lead to 2-1. Two consecutive outs left Williams stranded on second base and ended the at-bat.

The high-powered Trailblazer offense scored two more runs in the top of the fourth off of two solo home runs, resulting in a 4-1 lead.

The T-Birds were able to get one run back in the bottom of the frame. Following a leadoff flyout, Makenna Calderon laced a one-out double down the right-field line. Calderon was able to steal third on a wild pitch and went on to score off a Riley Shue groundout.

Dixie State responded in the top of the fifth in the form of six runs off seven hits and one SUU error, taking a 10-2 lead entering the bottom of the frame. 

Southern Utah was unable to record a hit in their final at-bat, as the Trailblazers went on to earn the victory.

The Thunderbirds will play their final three games of the season this weekend against Sacramento State. A doubleheader is scheduled for Friday, with the first game beginning at 1 PM MT. The series finale will take place on Saturday, with first pitch set for 1 PM MT. All three games will be available for viewing on ESPN+.

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