CEDAR CITY, Utah—The Thunderbirds have a busy week coming up. On Tuesday, April 9, they will head to St. George for a doubleheader against Utah Tech before hosting a single game against Utah State on Wednesday, April 10. Southern Utah will wrap up the week by taking on Seattle University in a weekend series on Friday and Saturday at Kathryn Berg Field.
The Thunderbirds are 14-18 overall and 4-8 in WAC play. Utah Tech is 12-24 on the year and 5-7 against conference opponents. Utah State is 21-18 on the year, while Seattle has a record of 16-22 overall and 8-6 against the WAC.
Weekly Game Information
Southern Utah at Utah Tech
Tuesday, April 9, 2024
SUU at UTU: 4:00 p.m. MT Tuesday Watch Live | Live Stats
SUU at UTU: 5:30 p.m. MT Tuesday Watch Live | Live Stats
Southern Utah vs. Utah State
Wednesday, April 10, 2024
SUU vs. USU: 1:00 p.m. MT Wednesday Watch Live | Live Stats
Southern Utah vs. Seattle University
Friday, April 12- Saturday, April 13, 2024
SUU vs. SU: 1:00 p.m. MT Friday Watch Live | Live Stats
SUU vs. SU: 3:30 p.m. MT Friday Watch Live | Live Stats
SUU vs SU: 12:00 p.m. MT Saturday Watch Live | Live Stats
Coach Don Don Williams Said
"This is a big week for us. We need to take the momentum from the ACU series wins on the field tomorrow."
"We need to keep our approach simple and win pitches."
Southern Utah
The offensive leaders for Southern Utah's Softball team showcase a formidable lineup, with standout performances from several players. Karmyna Becerra leads the pack with a solid .343 batting average, powered by 37 hits, including nine doubles and six home runs. Emily Gonzalez follows closely, boasting a .306 average with 26 hits and two home runs. Ariyana Miranda adds to the offensive attack with a .316 average and an outstanding 1.006 OPS, hitting eight home runs with 21 RBIs.
Junior Keimon Winston's return to the circle has been great for the Thunderbirds. Winston leads the pitching staff with a respectable 3.62 ERA and a solid 1.53 WHIP, amassing 29 strikeouts over 38.2 innings pitched. Emily Delgado has also been huge for the T-Birds, despite a 4.63 ERA, with an impressive 66 strikeouts across 93.2 innings of work. Delaney Baker battles fiercely, notching a 4.78 ERA but showcasing resilience with 15 strikeouts in 55.2 innings. The Thunderbirds will look to build off last weekend's series win over Abilene Christian with a strong week of competition.
Utah Tech
Utah Tech's offensive attack is spread between a few key starters. Laura Lockard stands out with a batting average of .316 and an OPS of .831, demonstrating consistent performance throughout 36 games. Carly Eldredge follows closely, boasting a .315 batting average and a .820 OPS, while LB Kahahawai-Kekona's .303 average and 21 runs scored indicate her effectiveness on the basepaths. Marisa Rubio and Maka Sonognini offer valuable support with their respective averages of .299 and .241. Additionally, Rachel Campbell's seven home runs showcase her power at the plate.
The Trailblazers' pitching staff has faced its share of challenges throughout the season, reflected in their combined ERA of 6.22 and WHIP of 1.71. Attlyn Johnston, with a 5.42 ERA and 1.73 WHIP, leads the rotation with three wins but has also faced adversity with 11 losses in 19 appearances. Tyler Denhart follows suit, demonstrating resilience with four wins in 21 appearances but struggling with a 6.84 ERA. Sauren Garton adds depth to the staff but faces difficulties with a 7.34 ERA across 14 appearances. Despite limited outings, Danyelle Leone showcases promise with a 5.40 ERA and a relatively lower WHIP of 1.40. Despite the challenges, the pitching staff collectively aims to improve, as reflected in their combined efforts to secure victories and mitigate runs allowed.
Utah State
Utah State's offensive lineup has been nothing short of electrifying this season, led by standout performers who've consistently delivered when it matters most. Ariel Fifita has been a force at the plate, wielding a scorching .357 batting average and an eye-popping OPS of .922 over 39 games, keeping defenses on their toes every time she steps up. Ali Ashner has proven herself a reliable asset, boasting a .314 average and an OPS of .812 in the same span, while Alex Bunton's robust .313 average and imposing OPS of .990 have kept opposing pitchers sweating. Grace Matej has been a revelation, hitting an incredible .438 with a jaw-dropping OPS of 1.094 in 29 appearances, anchoring the lineup with her clutch hitting and 25 RBIs. These offensive juggernauts have propelled Utah State's batting average to a formidable .290, underlining their dominance on the field.
The Aggies' pitching staff has displayed resilience and determination on the mound this season, led by some key arms committed to shutting down opposing offenses. Denay Smith has anchored the rotation with a solid 3.03 ERA and a 1.60 WHIP across 21 appearances, showcasing her ability to keep hitters off balance with 31 strikeouts over 69.1 innings. Jessica Stewart has proven a reliable workhorse, notching a 3.32 ERA and a 1.55 WHIP in 26 appearances, including two shutouts and five saves. Katie Zuniga has provided valuable support with a 3.34 ERA over 17 appearances, while Tess Bumiller has demonstrated glimpses of potential despite a 5.50 ERA. Hailey McLean and Sydney Saldaña have also contributed innings, albeit facing some challenges throughout the season. The Aggies' pitching corps has maintained a collective 3.97 ERA and a 1.71 WHIP over 99 appearances.
Seattle University
The offensive leaders for Seattle University have kept them competitive all year. Sydney Frankenberger leads the team with an impressive .372 batting average, contributing two home runs and 12 RBIs over 38 games so far. Taylor Fitch follows closely with a .365 batting average, displaying power with five home runs and driving in 22 runs. Mikee Morris has maintained a solid .345 batting average while adding two home runs and tallying 19 RBIs.
Stefanie Madrigal anchors the Redhawks' rotation with an ERA of 3.47, compiling 46 strikeouts over 78.2 innings pitched and securing eight wins against eight losses. Avari Morris follows suit with a 3.67 ERA and 35 strikeouts in 47.2 innings, despite a 2-4 win-loss record. Nicola Simpson showcases consistency with a 3.71 ERA and 36 strikeouts across 56.2 innings pitched. Although facing challenges, including a cumulative ERA of 4.07, the pitching staff has helped Seattle to 16 wins on the season.
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