Arlington, Texas—The Southern Utah Softball team dropped a doubleheader today against UT Arlington. The first game was a tight contest the whole way, finishing 2-0, while game two was a bit more lopsided in favor of the Mavericks, 7-0.
In a dazzling display at the plate, Kassidy Munoz emerged as the top performer for the Thunderbirds Friday afternoon, stealing the spotlight with her remarkable performance in Game 2. Munoz had an outstanding day with a flawless 3-for-3 effort at the plate. Munoz's stellar showing serves as a rallying cry for her teammates and will hopefully propel them to a stronger outing in the final game of the series on Saturday. Freshman Arianna Ramirez was the only other T-Bird to pick up multiple hits, scoring a hit in each of the two games.
Junior Keimon Winston returned to the circle for the first time in weeks for the Thunderbirds, pitching two innings, giving up two unearned runs, and striking out one. Freshman Emily Delgado pitched four innings in relief during game one, giving up just three hits and striking out four. In game two, Sophomore Delaney Baker got the loss, pitching 3.2 innings and giving up six runs on five hits and striking out one.
Game 1 Summary
In a tense showdown between the Southern Utah Thunderbirds and the UT Arlington Mavericks, the game was dominated by defense early on. Southern Utah's Emily Gonzalez drew a walk in the top of the first, but despite the early baserunner, the Thunderbirds couldn't convert it into runs. UT Arlington countered with patience at the plate, earning walks but failing to capitalize on scoring opportunities in the bottom half of the inning.
As the game progressed, both teams showcased resilience on the defensive end, with pitchers and fielders holding firm under pressure. Southern Utah threatened in the top of the second with Arianna Ramirez's double yet failed to capitalize. However, it was UT Arlington who eventually found the breakthrough in the bottom of the third, exploiting an error to notch two unearned runs, setting the tone for the remainder of the game. Despite late-game efforts from Southern Utah, including Gonzalez's pivotal double in the sixth inning, UT Arlington's solid defense ultimately sealed their victory, capping off a gritty battle on the diamond.
Game 2 Summary
Game two unfolded with a tale of two halves. Southern Utah showed early promise as Emily Gonzalez drew a walk in the top of the first, but despite advancing to second, the Thunderbirds couldn't capitalize on the opportunity. However, the Mavericks' defense also stood firm, as a swift double play in the bottom half of the inning nullified Corona's early single.
The Thunderbirds appeared to gain momentum in the top of the second, with Kassidy Munoz's double threatening to break the deadlock, but again, they fell short of converting it into runs. UT Arlington seized the initiative in the bottom of the third, capitalizing on errors to notch two unearned runs, shifting the momentum in their favor. The Mavericks built on their lead in the following innings, with Sailor's home run and a flurry of hits extending their advantage. Despite late-game efforts from Southern Utah, including Arianna Ramirez's double in the sixth inning, UT Arlington's relentless offense and resilient defense secured them a game-two victory.
Next Up
The Thunderbirds will continue the series at UT Arlington on Saturday with a single game starting at 11:00 a.m. MT. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
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