CEDAR CITY, Utah - The Thunderbirds softball team is headed back out on the road this weekend to take on a challenging field at the University of San Diego's tournament. The T-Birds will open the tournament on Friday, February 13, at 12:30 p.m. MT against a tough team from Omaha, then take on the Host team from San Diego at 5:30 p.m. The Thunderbirds will have a single game on Saturday against Boise State at 3:00 p.m. MT. Southern Utah will wrap up the tournament with another game against the Broncos on Sunday at 10:00 a.m. Live stats will be available throughout the weekend, but only the game against San Diego will be broadcast on ESPN+.
The Thunderbirds are coming off a whirlwind opening weekend in Arizona, where they took on the University of Arizona, Santa Clara, Grand Canyon, and Weber State. The T-Birds finished with a 2-5 record against the incredibly tough field, winning the final two games of the weekend.
Coach Don Don Williams Said
"We're excited to head to San Diego this weekend and test ourselves against a loaded field in Omaha, University of San Diego, and squaring off twice against an always-tough and competitive Boise State. Every matchup is another chance to grow, compete at a high level, and continue building the momentum we've started this season, one opportunity at a time."
Southern Utah
The Thunderbirds have leaned on a handful of hot bats to pace the offense early this season. Arianna Ramirez has set the tone at the plate, swinging it at a team-best .381 clip with eight hits and five RBIs in seven starts. Savannah Lira has made the most of her opportunities, hitting .364, while Taralyn Ollison has been a steady presence in the lineup with a .333 average and seven hits. McKenzy Becerra has provided the pop, driving in a team-high 10 RBIs and racking up two doubles and a triple to anchor the middle of the order. Michaella Salvatierra has chipped in six hits and four runs scored, and Michelle De la Cruz added a long ball and owns one of the top slugging percentages on the team. As a group, the Thunderbirds have totaled 40 hits and 19 RBIs through seven games, continuing to search for rhythm early in the season.
In the circle, the Thunderbirds have continued to mix and match as they search for consistency and momentum. Delaney Baker has taken on a bulk of the workload, making three starts and battling through key innings to keep Southern Utah in games. Hannah Duncan has been a versatile arm, appearing in four contests with a start and even picking up a save, giving the staff flexibility in different situations. Avery Nielson has shown swing-and-miss potential, leading the team in strikeouts and providing a spark in relief appearances, while Riley Nielson has also logged multiple starts as the T-Birds continue to evaluate their rotation. Though the numbers don't yet tell the full story, the pitching staff has shown flashes of competitiveness and will look to settle in as the season progresses and conference play nears.
Across the Diamond
Omaha (Friday, 12:30 p.m.)
Omaha softball is off to a strong start at the plate, hitting .321 as a team with a powerful 1.035 OPS through four games. The Mavericks have already launched eight home runs and driven in 35 runs. Taylor Sedlacek leads the way with a scorching .583 average and .688 on-base percentage, while Sammy Schmidt has been just as dangerous, batting .538 with two home runs and eight RBI for an eye-popping 1.831 OPS. Katherine Johnson has added two long balls and seven RBI, and Bailey Sample is hitting .385 to round out a productive core. In the circle, Omaha is 4-0 overall with a 4.85 ERA, highlighted by Alexis Wiggins' 2.52 ERA and 1.08 WHIP across 8.1 innings. Maddia Groff has struck out a team-high 17 batters, helping the Mavericks outscore opponents 38-18 and establish early momentum on both sides of the ball.
San Diego (Friday, 5:30 p.m.)
San Diego softball has leaned on strong pitching and timely hitting through five games, compiling a 3-2 record with a stellar 1.73 team ERA. In the circle, Kelsey Tadlock has been dominant, going 2-0 with a 0.60 ERA and a .139 opponent batting average across 11.2 innings. In comparison, Kaitlyn Bartlow has yet to allow an earned run, and Charlie Johnson owns a 1.45 ERA in her appearances. As a staff, the Toreros are holding opponents to a .242 average. Offensively, San Diego is hitting .262 as a team, led by Kaitlyn Wynia's .538 average and Liliana Esparza's .429 mark. Hailey Mulligan has added a pair of doubles, and Shawnese Hogue-Lacy has driven in four runs, while Janae Combs has provided the team's lone home run. The Toreros have shown balance in the lineup and efficiency in the circle, keeping games close and giving themselves a chance to win behind steady, composed performances.
Boise State (Saturday, 3:00 p.m., Sunday 10:00 a.m.)
Boise State softball has come out swinging through six games, hitting .322 as a team while outscoring opponents 46-20. The Broncos have piled up 59 hits, including 15 doubles and three home runs, with Mya Flindt leading the charge at .381 with a 1.054 OPS and six RBI. Kate Penberthy and Quinn Southerland have each added eight hits, with Southerland racking up four doubles and four RBI, while Skylar Stroh has driven in six runs. Ashley Hernandez Lofton has been a spark at the top of the lineup, scoring eight runs and swiping three bases. In the circle, Boise State owns a strong 2.63 team ERA, led by Charley Duran's dominant 0.66 ERA over 10.2 innings. Kodi Crabtree has limited opponents to a .125 batting average, and Loula-Rae McNamara has struck out eight in 10.1 innings. With steady production at the plate and a pitching staff holding opponents to a .262 average, the Broncos have shown balance and depth early in the season.
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