CEDAR CITY, Utah - Southern Utah returns to the West Coast this weekend with a tournament at Fresno State University. The Thunderbirds will open the tournament against The University of California and CSU Bakersfield in a doubleheader on Friday, February 28, beginning at 11:00 a.m. MT.
The T-Birds will return to the diamond the next day to take on the Roadrunners a second time before squaring off with the host from Fresno State. Southern Utah will wrap up the tournament with a second matchup against Cal on Sunday, March 2, at 10:30 a.m. MT.
Coach Don Don Williams Said
"This is our last weekend of pre-season. The team has made adjustments every week and we expect to see a solid performance in Fresno. "
Southern Utah
The Thunderbirds' offense is still meshing early in the season and looking to increase production with some timely hits. Arianna Ramirez has been on fire, boasting a .366 batting average and a .438 on-base percentage while driving in eight clutch runs. Ariyana Miranda has been a game-changer in pressure moments, leading the team with nine RBIs. Amyah Boostedt has been delivering at the plate, hitting .289 with four doubles and a towering home run. At the top of the order, Michaella Salvatierra has been a nightmare for opposing defenses, swiping nine bases and drawing eight walks to set the tone.
On the mound, the Thunderbirds' pitching staff is battling a tough early-season schedule, showing resilience and growth. Keimon Winston has emerged as the team's ace, logging 38.1 innings with a 1.67 WHIP and a team-leading 24 strikeouts. Emily Delgado is gaining momentum, delivering a gritty performance at the Easton Bama Bash against Drake, #21 Alabama, and #17 Virginia Tech, where she pitched eight innings and allowed just one earned run on eight hits while striking out five.
Across the Diamond
California
Cal softball is off to a strong start this season, charging to a 10-4 record behind a potent offense and a solid pitching staff. The Golden Bears are swinging the bats with authority, posting a .320 team average and launching 17 home runs through 14 games. Acacia Anders has been a force at the plate, hitting .458 with seven RBIs, while Alyssa Herrera (.412, 3 HR, 9 RBIs) and Lagi Quiroga (.372, 5 HR, 10 RBIs) have provided plenty of power. Miranda De Nava has anchored the staff in the circle with a 4-1 record and a 2.96 ERA over 28.1 innings, while Ryann Orange (3.41 ERA, 3-2 W-L) has been another reliable arm. With a 3.07 team ERA and a lineup producing in key moments, Cal looks like a very tough opponent early in the season.
CSU Bakersfield
CSU Bakersfield is off to a solid start this season, battling to a 9-9 record behind a mix of power hitting and gritty pitching performances. Maalia Cherry has been the offensive spark, leading the team with a .357 average, a team-high seven home runs, and 20 RBIs, boasting a 1.147 OPS. Maya Molina-Villarreal (.355 AVG, .645 SLG) and Hannah Garcia (.333 AVG, .882 OPS) have provided additional firepower at the plate. Speed has also been a factor, with Kaia Johnson stealing 11 bases in as many attempts. In the circle, Bailee Bustos has been the go-to ace, posting a 2.49 ERA with five complete-game shutouts across 59 innings. As a staff, the Roadrunners hold a 4.50 ERA but will look to tighten up control after allowing 62 walks through 112 innings.
Fresno State
Fresno State softball has had a mixed start to the season, posting a 7-6 record through 13 games. Offensively, Kennedy Bunker leads the team with a .343 batting average and a .963 OPS, contributing 10 RBIs and a home run. Natalie Elias has also been a consistent presence at the plate, hitting .327 with a team-high 16 hits and 12 runs scored. Madison Rey and Lauren Almeida have added power to the lineup, each recording an OPS above .880 and combining for 15 RBIs. As a team, the Bulldogs are batting .242 with a .690 OPS. On the pitching front, Serayah Neiss has been the workhorse, pitching 35.1 innings with a 2.38 ERA and 24 strikeouts, while Hannah Ortega has provided solid relief with a 2.33 ERA over nine innings. The pitching staff as a whole holds a 3.12 ERA, but opponents are batting .293 against them.
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