OREM, Utah – The Southern Utah Softball team fell in the series opener Friday against Utah Valley University on the road 8-6. The Wolverines came away with the win powered by a big fifth inning in which they scored six runs. 

The Thunderbirds scored five of their six runs by way of the home run. In the top of the fourth inning, sophomore Sophia Masut smacked a home run that sailed over the left-field fence to make the score 2-0. The Wolverines tied the ball game in the bottom half of the fourth with a two-run home run. Junior Capri Franzen put the T-Birds back on top in the fifth inning with a home run to dead center field. Not to be outdone Utah Valley exploded for six runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to take an 8-3 lead. Freshman third baseman Emily Gonzalez crushed a three-run home run in the top of the sixth to put the Thunderbirds within striking distance but UVU would hold on for the 8-6 victory. 

On the rubber, redshirt senior Payton Goodrich got the start. Goodrich pitched four innings giving up four runs and striking out three. 

NEXT UP

The Thunderbirds will continue the series Saturday afternoon with a doubleheader as the second game was cut from the Friday night slate due to rain. The series will wrap up Saturday, April 22, with a doubleheader starting at 12:00 p.m. MT. The games will be broadcast on ESPN+ and live stats can be found at suutbirds.com.

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