CEDAR CITY, Utah - Southern Utah Softball is on the road again this weekend at the Sun Devil Classic at Arizona State. The Thunderbirds will take on New Mexico State on both Friday and Saturday at 12:45 p.m. MT each day. The T-Birds matchup with the host from Arizona State on Friday evening at 6:15 p.m. MT. Southern Utah will also challenge the University of Michigan at 10:00 a.m. MT on both Saturday and Sunday. The game against Arizona State will be broadcast on ESPN+.
The Thunderbirds are coming off a strong second weekend in San Diego, where the Thunderbirds finished 3-1 to improve the team's overall record to 5-6 on the year. Last weekend, the T-Birds took down the University of San Diego and Boise State but fell to the University of Omaha.
Coach Don Don Williams Said
"We're heading into the Arizona State Tournament riding real momentum from our 3-1 weekend in San Diego, where the offense came alive with timely hitting, our pitching staff competed hard, and the team showed tremendous resilience in big spots. We've taken positive steps in the right direction, and this weekend gives us a chance to keep building on that against quality competition."
Southern Utah
The Thunderbirds' offense has been paced by a trio of consistent hitters at the top of the lineup. Arianna Ramirez has led the way with a team-best .429 batting average, collecting 15 hits in 35 at-bats while posting a .916 OPS and driving in six runs. Close behind, Taralyn Ollison is hitting .361 with 13 hits, including two doubles and a triple, good for a strong .882 OPS and a .472 slugging percentage. McKenzy Becerra has added power to the lineup, batting .294 with two doubles and a home run, tying Ollison with a team-high 17 total bases and leading the squad with a .500 slugging percentage. Alayah Toscano has also been productive in key moments, driving in a team-best nine RBIs, while Kassidy Munoz and Michaella Salvatierra have each crossed the plate seven times to help spark the Thunderbirds' 44-run output through 11 games.
Several strong individual performances have led the Thunderbirds' pitching staff in the circle. Avery Nielson has been a key arm for SUU, posting a team-best three wins and adding a save across six appearances. In 16.1 innings of work, she has struck out 13 hitters while limiting opponents to a .297 batting average. Hannah Duncan has provided valuable experience and durability, earning two saves and tossing a team-high 21.0 innings, including a complete game. Duncan has issued just seven walks over that span and holds a solid 1.67 WHIP. Together, Nielson and Duncan have combined for four of the team's five wins and all three saves, giving the Thunderbirds steady production and reliability in the circle through the opening stretch of the season.
Across the Diamond
New Mexico State (Friday, 12:45 p.m., Saturday 12:45 p.m.)
The New Mexico State Aggies softball team has been swinging it as well as anyone in the country to open the season, overwhelming opponents with a high-octane offense that's hitting .343 as a team with a .997 OPS and 18 home runs in just 12 games. Faith Aragon has been nearly unstoppable, batting .567 with a jaw-dropping 1.694 OPS, while Devin Elam has delivered serious pop in the middle of the order with five home runs and a 1.033 slugging percentage. Lauren Garcia (.419, two home runs), Kendal Lunar (three home runs, 10 RBI), and Bella Clapp (three home runs, nine RBI) have lengthened the lineup and made it difficult for pitchers to find a break. The Aggies have piled up 83 runs and 197 total bases, and they've been flawless on the basepaths, converting all 11 stolen base attempts. In the circle, Aragon has shouldered much of the workload with 42 strikeouts and a 3-2 record, but the staff as a whole has worked through growing pains, posting a 7.75 ERA.
Michigan (Saturday 10:00 a.m., Sunday 10:00 a.m.)
The Michigan Wolverines have come out of the gates firing on all cylinders, pairing a dangerous lineup with a dominant pitching staff en route to an 8-2 start. Michigan is hitting .331 as a team with a staggering 1.101 OPS and 24 home runs in just 10 games, highlighted by the video-game numbers of Lauren Putz, who is batting .536 with nine home runs and a jaw-dropping 2.171 OPS. Jenissa Conway has been just as dangerous, hitting .517 with five homers and 14 RBI, while Lilly Vallimont (.400, three home runs) has added depth and power throughout the order. In the circle, the Wolverines have been just as impressive, posting a 2.46 team ERA and holding opponents to a .205 batting average. Kat Meyers has been nearly untouchable with a 0.43 ERA over 16.1 innings, and Erin Hoehn has logged 32 strikeouts and two complete games to anchor a staff that has consistently shut down opposing offenses. With power at the plate and efficiency in the circle, Michigan has looked every bit like a power conference contender.
Arizona State (Friday 6:15 p.m.)
The Sun Devils softball team has put together a balanced start to the season, riding a potent lineup and a lights-out pitching staff through 11 games to a 10-1 record. Offensively, the Sun Devils are hitting .334 as a team with a .974 OPS, piling up 96 hits, 23 doubles, and 12 home runs while scoring 82 runs. Katie Chester has been a steady force at the top, batting .464 with a 1.250 OPS, while JazMarie Roberts is hitting .440, and Kaylee Pond has delivered the power with four home runs and 12 RBI. Samantha Swan has added pop with two homers and three stolen bases, helping Arizona State go 10-for-12 on the basepaths. In the circle, the Sun Devils have been equally impressive, posting a 2.40 team ERA and holding opponents to a .220 batting average. Kenzie Brown has been dominant with a 1.98 ERA, 53 strikeouts in 28.1 innings, and two shutouts, while Aissa Silva and Meika Lauppe remain unbeaten, giving Arizona State a deep and reliable staff to match its explosive offense.
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