Riverside, California—The Southern Utah Softball team dropped a doubleheader on the road at California Baptist Friday afternoon. The T-Birds lost game one 9-1, and the final of game two was 9-4.
Among the standout performers for the Thunderbirds, Emily Gonzalez emerged as a force to be reckoned with three hits and a crucial RBI across the two games. Adding to the offensive barrage, Arianna Ramirez, stationed at first base, delivered a pair of hits in the opening matchup, while Alayah Toscano, patrolling center field, unleashed her bat with clutch hits and two vital RBIs in the second game. Karmyna Becerra, holding down the hot corner at third base, showcased her resilience with a pivotal hit and a run scored in the latter contest. Not to be outdone, Ariyana Miranda, stepping up as the designated player, made her presence felt with a hit and two electrifying runs in game two. Rounding out the standout performers, Laurie Cooke, the team's dependable shortstop, exhibited her defensive prowess while also contributing with critical hits and runs scored in both clashes. Cooke extended her hit streak to 12 games with a single in each of the two games.
Coach Don Don Williams Said
"We are seeing some positive growth within the team. It's a game of adjustments, and we will continue to focus on the process."
Game 1 Scoring Summary
California Baptist's Lyon set the tone with a powerful homer to left field in the first inning, bringing in Borkokwski and setting the score at 2-0. The momentum continued for California Baptist in the third inning, with Penberthy's single up the middle driving in another run, followed by Severns' RBI single through the right side, extending their lead to 4-0. Despite Southern Utah's efforts, they managed to get on the board in the fourth inning as Ariyana Miranda's sacrifice fly to center field brought home Emily Gonzalez, narrowing the deficit to 4-1. However, California Baptist swiftly responded in the same inning with Burns' single up the middle, bringing in two more runs, stretching their lead to 6-1. The game concluded in the sixth inning as K. Lyon once again showcased her power with a three-run homer to left center, sealing California Baptist's victory with a final score of 9-1.
Game 2 Scoring Summary
The scoring commenced in the 2nd inning as Alayah Toscano's bunt brought in Ariyana Miranda, giving SUU an early lead. However, California Baptist quickly responded in the same inning, tying the game with a single from Estrada. In the 3rd, California Baptist surged ahead with a double from Lyon, bringing in Borkokwski. In the 4th inning, SUU leveled the score again as Toscano's single brought in Miranda once more. Nevertheless, California Baptist broke the deadlock with a flurry of runs, capitalizing on defensive errors, including singles from Borkokwski and Burns, followed by a grand slam from Penberthy. Despite SUU's late efforts, with Miranda's sacrifice fly and Emily Gonzalez's single bringing in runs in the 7th inning, California Baptist maintained their lead, securing the victory with a final score of 9-4.
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Next Up
The Thunderbirds will continue the series at California Baptist in Riverside, California, on Saturday, March 23. The two teams will square off for a single game beginning at 6:00 p.m. MT. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
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