Box Score SACRAMENTO, California – The Southern Utah Softball team picked up a win early Saturday morning over Alabama State 9-5. The afternoon game of the Capitol City Classic has been canceled due to weather and will not be rescheduled. There are still two games to be played in the tournament and to this point the T-Birds are 2-1 on the weekend with wins against Alabama State and Saint Mary's College.
The Thunderbirds scored a season-high nine runs in today's game. Freshman infielder Emily Gonzalez crushed two home runs during the contest and now has three on the season which matches the team-high from a year ago.
This year's squad is producing runs at a much higher pace than last season with 36 runs through the first 11 games. By comparison, it took last year's team 21 games to cross home plate as many times as this team has done to this point.
SUU vs ALABAMA STATE
The Thunderbirds took on Alabama State Saturday morning. Southern Utah woke up the offense early in this one stringing together a few hits and some stolen bases in the top of the second inning.
Redshirt senior infielder Josey White singled to start the inning off. A double steal would bring her around to score the first run of the game. Sophomore infielder Sophia Masut would then come in to score on a single up the middle by junior outfielder Allie Laub. Laub stole second base and then advanced to third on a wild pitch before being driven in by junior catcher Bella Garcia.
The Hornets got a pair of runs back in the bottom of the second inning. The Thunderbirds would extend the lead back to two in the top half of the third inning when senior first baseman Madison Sanders drove in freshman outfielder Alayah Toscano with a single down the left-field line.
Alabama State's offense would remain consistent scoring a run in both the bottom of the third and fourth innings. The Thunderbirds would blow the game open in the top of the fifth inning when Freshman Emily Gonzalez stepped to the plate and crushed a ball over the left-center wall to score three runs. A couple of batters later Garcia drove a single to left field which scored Laub for the second time in the game.
Gonzalez would come up again in the top of the sixth inning this time with two outs and the bases empty but the resulting swing would be the same, as she hit her second home run of the game. To make the score 9-4.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, the Hornets would threaten again, picking up one run but ultimately the Thunderbirds would hold on to win the game 9-5.
Sophomore pitcher Keimon Winston picked up the win in relief going four innings and striking out four while giving up only one earned run.
COACH DON DON WILLIAMS SAYS…
"Today was a solid team win. We had great offensive execution with timely hitting and competitive pitching."
"Emily Gonzalez had a great day at the plate. Her ability to drive the ball was the difference maker in this game."
TOP MOMENTS
NEXT UP
The Thunderbirds will continue the weekend tournament in a new venue, squaring off with Saint Mary's College tomorrow morning at 11:00 a.m. MT. Southern Utah will turn around quickly and continue the tournament at 1:30 p.m. MT Saturday against Siena College.
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