CEDAR CITY, Utah - The T-Birds continue WAC play this week at home, welcoming Abilene Christian to Cedar City. The series will begin with a doubleheader on Friday, April 17, at 1:00 p.m. MT. The Thunderbirds will wrap up the three-game set against the Wildcats on Saturday, April 18, at noon MT. Live stats for the games will be available on the schedule link at suutbirds.com, and the games will be broadcast on ESPN+.
Southern Utah is looking to bounce back following a tough road set at Tarleton State last week. The T-Birds are 16-23 on the season and 2-7 against the WAC. SUU is 3-2 at home this season and will look to try and build on a good record in front of the home crowd this weekend. Abilene Christian comes into the weekend series 3-6 in WAC play, having taken one game in each of its first three conference series. The Wildcats are 6-32 on the year with a 2-11 record in true road contests. ACU will take on North Texas on Wednesday, April 15, before traveling to Cedar City for the WAC showdown.
Coach Don Don Williams Said
"We've battled a tough schedule all year, and with nine conference games left, we control our own fate. This weekend at home, we're locked in and focused on winning the series."
Southern Utah
The Thunderbirds have had a handful of steady contributors in the circle this year, with others adding depth. Sophomore Hannah Duncan leads the team with 75.1 innings pitched this year, also collecting a team high of 54 strikeouts. Duncan has been key in the T-Birds' rotation with four complete games and has also helped out in the latter half of games, tallying three saves this season. The Nielson sisters, Riley and Avery, have been major contributors, racking up a combined 113 innings pitched. Freshman Avery Nielson leads the team in wins this year with a 5-3 record. She has also posted three saves in the 2026 campaign. Riley Nielson continues to be a steady presence for Southern Utah, collecting three wins with two complete games. Senior Delaney Baker has four wins on the year with 20 strikeouts in over 47 innings pitched. Baker saw her most dominant performance of the year against Maine in early March as she held the Black Bears to just two hits in a complete game shutout. The pitching staff could play a crucial role in grabbing some momentum as the Thunderbirds head to the back half of conference play.
A steady and productive top of the order has fueled Southern Utah's offense. Junior Arianna Ramirez has been the catalyst, leading the team with a .355 average, 44 hits, and a .394 on-base percentage while driving in 21 runs. Right behind her, Taralyn Ollison has provided consistency, hitting .321 with 42 knocks, including a team-best eight doubles and a pair of triples. Freshman McKenzy Becerra has supplied the pop, pacing the lineup with five home runs, 22 RBIs, and a .496 slugging percentage. Senior Alayah Toscano has delivered timely production with 15 RBIs, highlighted by her first career home run last week in Texas, while Michaella Salvatierra continues to pressure defenses with her speed, scoring 23 runs and going a perfect 9-for-9 on stolen base attempts.
Across the Diamond
Abilene Christian
Abilene Christian's offense is anchored by a power-packed middle of the order, led by Ari Maxwell, who is hitting .345 with a team-best 12 home runs and a 1.105 OPS, driving in 26 runs while slugging an impressive .735. Elizabeth Schaefer has been a consistent table-setter with a .319 average, seven doubles, and a .396 on-base percentage, while Audrey Lacina (.317) provides additional stability in limited action. Emerson Meggers adds depth with a .264 average, 15 walks, and a .391 OBP, showing patience at the plate, while Ciana Arguijo has been a key run producer with 21 runs scored and 29 hits. The Wildcats have also received timely pop from Emalee Romero and Jadyn Dawson, who have combined for six home runs, helping power a lineup that has produced 24 long balls and 121 RBIs on the season.
The Wildcats' pitching staff has been led primarily by Leah Meyer, who has logged a team-high 68.1 innings across 22 appearances and 11 starts, picking up three wins while striking out 44 hitters. Ella Beeman has also taken on a significant workload with 53.1 innings in 13 starts, while Lindsey Oliver (35.1 IP) and Alissa Snipes (32.2 IP) have provided additional depth in the circle, combining for 35 strikeouts. Makayla Valle has been a frequent option out of the bullpen with 18 appearances, adding 32.2 innings of work.
Follow Us
Stay up to date on the Thunderbird Softball team by following @SUUSoftball on Twitter and Instagram and liking the Southern Utah softball page on Facebook.
Donate
To help support Thunderbird athletics, consider making a donation today! To learn more about how you can support, click here.
