CEDAR CITY, Utah - Southern Utah Softball is finally playing closer to home this weekend. The Thunderbirds will take on Utah and Utah State in St. George on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Each day's game is set for 10 a.m., opening with Utah on Thursday, facing Utah State on Friday, and closing the weekend against Utah on Saturday.

The team will then return to Cedar City on Sunday, March 1, to officially open the new Kathryn Berg Field. A ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for 11:45 a.m., followed by a doubleheader against Weber State.

The Thunderbirds are coming off a tough weekend at the Sun Devil Classic, where they played very well to finish the tournament 2-3. The T-Birds took down New Mexico State twice while playing very tight games against national powerhouses Michigan and No. 23 Arizona State. Over the course of the weekend, Southern Utah never fell by more than two runs, even forcing a 10-inning game against Michigan, which received votes in this week's national ranking polls. 

Coach Don Don Williams Said

Southern Utah

The Thunderbirds' offense has been fueled by a strong core at the top of the lineup, led by Arianna Ramirez, who is hitting a team-best .380 with 19 hits and a .446 on-base percentage through 16 games. Ramirez has been a steady presence, striking out just twice in 50 at-bats while setting the tone offensively. Taralyn Ollison has added depth with a .293 average, 17 hits, and nine runs scored, while McKenzy Becerra has provided the power surge, launching three home runs and driving in 10 RBI with a team-high .520 slugging percentage. Alayah Toscano has also knocked in 10 runs, delivering in key situations, and Michaella Salvatierra has applied pressure on the bases with a perfect 4-for-4 mark in stolen base attempts, helping the Thunderbirds total 105 hits and 59 RBI as a team.

Inside the circle, the Thunderbirds have leaned on a competitive and versatile staff that continues to take on big innings. Hannah Duncan has been a steady presence, working both as a starter and out of the bullpen while picking up a pair of saves and logging key outs in pressure moments. Riley Nielson and Delaney Baker have each taken on significant starting roles, battling through tough lineups and giving the Thunderbirds valuable length in the circle. Avery Nielson has been a bright spot early in the season, emerging as a reliable option who attacks hitters and keeps her team in position to win. As a group, the Thunderbirds' pitching staff has shown resilience and a willingness to compete, embracing different roles as they continue to develop chemistry and consistency through the early stretch of the season.

Across the Diamond

Utah (Thursday, 10:00 a.m., Saturday, 10:00 a.m.)

The Utah Utes softball team enters the Beehive Classic at 11-5, riding the momentum of a strong all-around start to 2026. Offensively, Utah is hitting .259 as a team with a .404 slugging percentage, led by Mia Gomez's scorching .458 average and 1.207 OPS, while Kennedy Proctor (.353, three home runs, 16 RBI) and Payton Crank (.319) have provided consistent run production in the middle of the order. The Utes have shown balance throughout the lineup with 113 hits, 26 doubles, and nine home runs through 16 games. In the circle, Utah has been especially sharp, posting a 2.04 team ERA behind a deep staff. Raci Miranda has emerged as a frontline arm with a 0.79 ERA and recently spun a two-hit complete game shutout at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic, retiring 21 of the final 22 batters she faced in a 1-0 win over UC Riverside. With Shelbee Jones (1.19 ERA, 35 strikeouts) and Hailey Maestretti (2.31 ERA) adding stability, the Utes have combined timely hitting with dominant pitching to position themselves as a tough matchup heading into the heart of tournament play.

Utah State (Friday, 10:00 a.m.) 

The Utah State Aggies softball enters the weekend at 9-6 with a balanced lineup hitting .295 as a team and plenty of production at the top of the order. Alex Bunton (.442, 1.227 OPS) and Faith Kroening (.404) have paced the offense, while Kya Pratt and freshman Jazmin Ramirez have added timely power, combining for key extra-base hits and run production. Ramirez is coming off a breakout performance at the Georgia Classic in Athens, where she launched her first career home run and drove in three runs in a 3-1 win over the Seton Hall Pirates. In the circle, the Aggies carry a 4.49 team ERA, led by Rylie Pindel (3-1), who tossed a complete game in the victory and allowed just one earned run while inducing 17 groundouts. With multiple hitters batting above .300 and a pitching staff that has shown the ability to close out tight games, Utah State brings momentum and depth into the weekend.

Weber State (Sunday, 12:00 p.m., 2:30 p.m.) 

The Weber State softball team enters this weekend's tournament on a bit of a rough patch, coming off a 1-4 showing at the Lyman Classic. Offensively, the Wildcats have seen strong individual efforts, led by Jordan McMahon, who is hitting a scorching .520 with nine RBIs and 26 hits, while Sammy Gallegos has been productive at the plate with a .429 average and six RBIs. Apollonia Maldonado and Taegan Smith have also contributed key runs, combining for a total of 13 RBIs on the season. However, the Wildcats have struggled to consistently convert at-bats into runs and have seen their pitching staff taxed, as the team carries a 6.65 ERA overall, with Kendall Freidinger leading the rotation but facing challenges keeping opponents off the scoreboard. Weber State fell to CSU Bakersfield 7-4 and Utah Tech 13-5 in its most recent tournament, despite early offensive bursts, highlighting both the team's potential and the areas it needs to tighten up. Southern Utah, meanwhile, has already bested the Wildcats twice this season by identical 6-3 scores, giving the Thunderbirds confidence as they head into another series.

Tickets

Fans please note that for this Sunday you will need to purchase tickets to the game. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased at tbirdtickets.com. 

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