RIVERSIDE, California – The Southern Utah softball team fell in the opening game of the Amy S. Harrison Classic to the Nevada Wolfpack 4-0. The Thunderbirds bounced back in game two, battling with UC Riverside and coming out on top 4-2. 

Junior Ariyana Miranda led the Thunderbirds at the plate on the day, picking up two crucial RBIs on one hit. Miranda Lopez and Laurie Cooke each had two hits on the day, and Cooke rounded the bases to score one in the two-game set. 

In the circle, Delaney Baker started game one for the T-Birds. She pitched 5.1 innings and kept the Thunderbirds in a close game the entire time. Freshman Emily Delgado pitched very well in game two, allowing just six hits over seven innings and holding the Highlanders to two runs for the complete game win. 

Coach Don Don Williams Said

"We played tough competition today and battled. Timely hitting proved to be key for us today. It was nice to see the team lock down and finish the game.

Game 1 Recap

Game one of the Amy S. Harrison Classic was a pitching battle right up until the sixth inning. The Thunderbirds held a potent Nevada lineup to just one run through the first five frames. 

Though the T-Birds would only manage a pair of hits, the game remained close the entire time. The Wolfpack pounced in the bottom of the sixth inning, scoring three runs on four hits. Shelby Basso entered the game after the damage was done and shut the Nevada rally down, quickly getting two outs to end the inning. The Wolfpack would hold on for the victory, finishing the 4-0 game with three quick outs in the top of the seventh. 

Game 2 Recap

The Thunderbirds bounced back in the afternoon tilt, taking down the host UC Riverside Highlanders in a battle. 

Karmyna Becerra led off the game with a single to centerfield and quickly came around to score on a double steal. Emily Gonalez would walk to set up a two-run home run by Ariyana Miranda, giving the T-Birds the early 3-0 lead. 

The Highlanders grabbed a pair of runs in the bottom half of the third inning with a two-run home run. The T-Birds were not done scoring, though, as Cooke came around to score in the fifth inning, once again out of a first-and-third situation. Delgado would hold down UC Riverside to earn the victory. 

Next Up

Games scheduled for Saturday of the Amy S. Harrison Classic have been canceled due to weather. The Thunderbirds will look to finish the tournament with another doubleheader on Sunday, beginning with a 10:00 a.m. game with Nevada and wrapping up with another matchup against UC Riverside at 12:30 p.m. MT. 

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