RIVERSIDE, California – The Southern Utah softball team picked up a 3-2 win Sunday morning against an outstanding University of Nevada team. The Thunderbirds followed that up, earning a big 8-1 win over the host UC Riverside Highlanders in the afternoon game. Southern Utah finished the weekend at the Amy S. Harrison Classic 3-1 with outstanding individual and team performances.
Junior Karmyna Becerra led the Southern Utah offensive attack, going six for eight on the day, including four RBIs. Becerra hit two doubles and a home run in the back-to-back victories for the Thunderbirds. Arianna Ramirez and Laurie Cooke also picked up three hits each on the day. Cooke crossed the plate four times to lead the team in runs scored on the day.
Freshman Emily Delgado was outstanding in game one, pitching a complete game for the victory. Delgado allowed two runs on just six hits, striking out two batters. The win moved her season record to 3-2 and was her third complete game of the year. Freshman Delaney Baker started in game two and pitched a solid game, allowing one run on one hit and striking out two over 4.1 innings pitched.
Coach Don Don Williams Said
"We had some quality execution on both defense and offense to earn a win against a tough Nevada team."
"It was nice to see our offense finally show what they are capable of. Defensively, we made some exceptional plays for outs. Our pitching staff did a nice job keeping Riverside to two hits."
Game 1 Recap
The action was intense from the start of the Sunday morning game between Southern Utah and the University of Nevada. In the third inning, Nevada took the lead as Painter's triple to right field brought Clark home, followed by Gilliano's single, adding another run to their tally. Southern Utah quickly responded in the bottom of the third, with Laurie Cooke's steal leading to a run as Alayah Toscano scored on an error. Karmyna Becerra's single brought Cooke home, leveling the score at 2-2.
Southern Utah seized the opportunity to edge ahead as the game progressed into the fifth inning. Capri Franzen singled and then capitalized on a wild pitch, darting home and giving Southern Utah the 3-2 lead. The Thunderbirds put the pressure on the defense and pitcher Emily Delgado to finish strong. Delgado earned the victory, shutting the Wolfpack down and moving her record to 3-2 for the year.
Game 2 Recap
The game started with both teams showing a flash of offensive power, as Southern Utah's Arianna Ramirez drove in a run with a single in the first inning. UC Riverside answered when Araki and Witt executed a double steal to tie the score at 1-1. However, Southern Utah quickly gained momentum, with Becerra smashing a two-run home run in the second inning to give the Thunderbirds a 3-1 lead.
Southern Utah continued to dominate throughout the game, with key plays including a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning by Miranda Lopez and Emily Gonzalez's two-run double in the same inning. Becerra added an RBI double in the fifth to put the game on ice. With solid pitching and stellar defense, Southern Utah held UC Riverside to just one run on two hits, securing their victory in a standout team performance.
Next Up
The Thunderbirds will return to Cedar City for their home opener against UNLV on Tuesday, March 5. The first pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. MT at Kathryn Berg Field. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+, and live stats will be available on suutbirds.com.
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