CEDAR CITY, Utah – The Southern Utah Softball team split day one of the series with Stephen F. Austin falling in game one 12-0 before bouncing back to win game two 10-8. The series finale will be tomorrow at noon MT.
GAME 1 RECAP
In the top half of the second inning, the Lady Jacks got the offense started and never looked back. SFA scored three runs in the frame on four hits leaving two on the bases.
In the top half of the fourth inning, the Jacks had another big inning scoring six runs and chasing starter Keimon Winston from the game. Stephen F. Austin collected four hits in the inning including a three-run home run by Gaby Garcia.
In the fifth inning, the hit kept coming for the Jacks as they picked up four more in route to scoring three runs to make the lead 12-0.
For the Thunderbirds, freshman Riley Nielson continued to swing the bat well, picking up two hits in the game. The only other hit for the T-Birds came off the bat of junior shortstop Miranda Lopez.
Sophomore pitcher Keimon Winston got the game-one loss. She pitched 3.1 innings in the game striking out two batters.
GAME 2 RECAP
The Thunderbirds stole the win late in the second game of the day. Both teams were very active at the plate with Southern Utah racking up 13 hits while the Jacks had 12 of their own.
SFA opened up the scoring in the top of the first inning continuing the momentum from game one. The Lady Jacks scored four runs in the inning including another three-run blast from Garcia. They added a fifth run in the top half of the second inning but then it was the T-Birds' turn to make some noise.
In the bottom of the second, sophomore Amyah Boostedt doubled to left center scoring freshman Alayah Toscano. Sophomore Sophia Masut scored Boostedt on a ground ball and junior Miranda Lopez followed that up with a single to score junior Shelby Basso.
Not to be outdone, Garcia picked up her third home run of the day in the top of the third inning. Southern Utah would bounce right back in the home half when freshman Emily Gonzalez drove a triple down the line to score junior Allie Laub.
Consistency became the key for the Thunderbirds when they added three runs in the fourth inning. The runs came on one big swing by sophomore Jayne Sepulveda who drove the ball over the centerfield fence. The home run put the Thunderbirds out front for the first time on the day.
In the fifth inning, the T-Birds added to the lead when Basso singled to score Nielson. The Thunderbirds now led 8-6 with just two innings to go. The Jacks however would go on to even it up in the top of the sixth scoring two runs.
The Thunderbirds led off the sixth inning with a pair of singles. Laub then stepped to the plate and delivered a perfect sacrifice bunt to move the T-Birds into scoring position. After walking Gonzalez, Nielsen stepped to the plate and crushed a deep sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Lopez. Toscano then drove a single to left field that scored Sepulveda.
Redshirt senior Payton Goodrich held SFA down in the top of the seventh to collect the win. Freshman Riley Nielsen got the start in the circle lasting 5.1 innings and picking up 3 strikeouts.
NEXT UP
The Thunderbirds will continue the series Saturday at noon MT. Looking to improve in WAC with a series win against Stephen F. Austin. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
FOLLOW US
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