CEDAR CITY, Utah— Southern Utah split Saturday's doubleheader with Utah Valley winning game one 7-6 in walk-off fashion. The Thunderbirds fell in game two 4-1 despite putting up a solid fight. 

Sophomore Emily Gonzalez was incredible at the plate, picking up seven hits and three RBIs over the two games. Gonzalez blasted a no-doubt home run in the sixth inning of game one, putting the Thunderbirds within striking distance. Both Alayah Toscano and Karmyna Becerra collected three hits on the day, and Becerra added two key RBIs. 

In game one, Sophomore Delaney Baker took to the circle and pitched a complete game, earning the victory. Baker allowed nine hits and struck out one in the effort, relying on solid defense behind her. Junior Keimon Winston started game two and pitched just 1.1 innings. Freshman Emily Delgado pitched 5.2 strong innings of relief to keep the T-Birds in the game. Delgado surrendered three runs on four hits and struck out four batters.  

Coach Don Don Williams Said

"It was nice to see the team come out and compete in game one. This was a quality win."

"Delaney Baker showed a lot of grit in game one, going seven innings. Emily Delgado did a great job commanding the zone and put us in a position to win game two. Unfortunately, we lacked the timely hitting to produce the runs." 

"Emily Gonzalez had a great day at the plate."

Game 1 Summary

The first softball game between Southern Utah and Utah Valley saw an intense back-and-forth battle, with Southern Utah ultimately emerging victorious. In the bottom of the first inning, Southern Utah's Karmyna Becerra scampered home after hitting a triple down the right-field line, putting them ahead 1-0. Utah Valley responded in the top of the second inning with three quick runs to give them the lead. The Wolverines added to their lead in the fifth inning, adding two runs. 

The Thunderbirds bounced back right away, scoring two runs in the bottom half of the fifth inning when Becerra smashed a two-run home run. In the bottom of the sixth, the T-Birds tied the game up with a solo home run by Gonzalez and an RBI single from Arianna Ramirez, bringing the score to 5-5. 

UVU scored a run in the top of the seventh, giving them a narrow lead, but Southern Utah would not go away. Down to the final strike twice, the Thunderbirds grabbed hits, including a single down the right field line by Gonzalez that scored two runs, giving SUU the win.  

Game 2 Summary

Utah Valley quickly took the lead in the second inning of game two with a powerful home run by Gibbs. Their offense continued to put pressure on Southern Utah, scoring two more runs in the fifth inning with a series of well-placed singles and aggressive baserunning. 

Both teams played well defensively and had strong pitching performances, which kept the score close until the late innings. Southern Utah attempted a comeback in the seventh inning, with Alayah Toscano's double and some timely hits resulting in a late run. Southern Utah showed resilience, especially in the last inning, but it wasn't enough to overcome Utah Valley's strong start.

Next Up

The Thunderbirds will complete their final home series of the season on Sunday, April 28, against UVU. The T-Birds will honor the senior softball players before Sunday's matchup with the Wolverines. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+. 

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