TEMPE, Arizona — Southern Utah Softball continued the weekend tournament at Arizona State University on Saturday, squaring off with Michigan and New Mexico State. The Thunderbirds battled the Wolverines in the first matchup, falling 3-1, before taking down the Aggies 6-5 for the second time in two days. The team's record now sits at 2-2 for the weekend at the Sun Devil Classic with one game to go on Sunday. 

Sophomore Isabella Knight was the lone T-Bird to pick up multiple hits on the day, with two. Senior Alayah Toscano cracked a critical RBI double in game two to help the Thunderbirds earn the win. In the circle, Delaney Baker pitched very well against a powerful Michigan lineup. The senior pitched five innings, allowing just two runs on three hits with one strikeout. Freshman Avery Nielson earned the game two win in relief, shutting down the late rally by the Aggies.

Coach Don Don Williams Said

"Delaney pitched a great game against Michigan. She kept a tough offense off balance, and it was one of the best performances of her career. Game two wasn't pretty, but we found a way to get it done." 

Game 1 Summary

The Thunderbirds and Wolverines traded scoreless innings through the first four frames, with both pitching staffs in control early. 

Southern Utah managed just one hit through the first five innings, while the defense turned in a clean performance behind the circle to keep the game knotted at 0-0.

Michigan broke through in the bottom of the fifth. After a leadoff double and a sacrifice bunt moved the runner to third, the Wolverines capitalized on a wild pitch to take a 1-0 lead.

The home team added insurance in the sixth inning. A single sparked the rally before a two-run home run to deep left field, stretching the advantage to 3-0.

Southern Utah mounted a late push in the seventh. Arianna Ramirez singled up the middle, and Kassidy Munoz followed with a walk to bring the tying run to the plate. 

After another walk loaded the bases, Savannah Lira delivered an RBI fielder's choice to score Mia Tamkoc and cut the deficit to 3-1. The Thunderbirds threatened with two runners on, but Michigan was able to record the final out to secure the win.

Game 2 Summary

New Mexico State struck first in the top half of the inning, capitalizing on a hit-by-pitch and a costly error. After a leadoff flyout, Joleeanna Hair was hit by a pitch and came around to score on a bunt single from Taylor Baca, aided by a throwing error. 

Later in the frame, Makenzie Jones delivered an RBI infield single to plate Baca and extend the Aggies' lead to 2-0.

Southern Utah answered right back in the bottom half, taking advantage of defensive miscues by the Aggies. After two quick outs, Michelle DelaCruz reached on an error, and Savannah Lira followed with another error that allowed DelaCruz to score. 

Alayah Toscano then roped an RBI double to left center, and Isabella Knight added an RBI single to give the Thunderbirds the 3-2 lead.

Southern Utah manufactured two more runs in the third. McKenzy Becerra and Arianna Ramirez worked back-to-back walks to spark the rally. Kassidy Munoz followed with a single to center to load the bases.

Michelle DelaCruz then put the ball in play and brought home Becerra on a fielder's choice to extend the lead. 

Later in the inning, a fielding error by the Aggies allowed Ramirez to score to make the score 5-2.

In the sixth, the Aggies shrank the lead to 5-3 when they picked up a run on an RBI single. New Mexico State came roaring back in the top of the seventh inning, scoring a pair of runs to tie the game at 5-5.

The Thunderbirds looked to have scored the winning run in the bottom of the 8th inning, but it was waved off for a runner leaving early. The following pitch was wild and scored Ollison to end the game 6-5.

On Deck

The Thunderbirds will close out the Sun Devil Classic, returning to the field Sunday at 10:00 a.m. MT. Southern Utah will take on the University of Michigan in its final game of the tournament. Live stats are available through the schedule link on suutbirds.com.

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