CEDAR CITY, Utah - The Thunderbirds head back out on the road this weekend to continue WAC play. Southern Utah will take on UT Arlington in a three-game set beginning on April 24 with a Friday doubleheader starting at noon MT. The T-Birds will wrap up the series against the Mavericks on Saturday, April 25, at 11:00 a.m. 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 coming off a three-game sweep of Abilene Christian at home last week. The T-Birds are looking to continue that momentum as they take on the Mavericks in the second-to-last conference series of the season. Freshman McKenzy Becerra received national and conference Player of the Week recognition for her performance in the series. The Thunderbirds currently sit in fourth place in the standings just behind the Mavericks. This series could be pivotal to the WAC tournament seedings.   

Coach Don Don Williams Said

"We're carrying great momentum after sweeping Abilene Christian at home last weekend, and now we get to test ourselves on the road against a strong UT Arlington team. Winning on the road is extremely hard in this conference, so we know we have to show up and play our best softball of the season these next three games. We're locked in and ready to keep building as we head into the final stretch."

Southern Utah

The tone-setters at the top of Southern Utah's lineup have powered the offense all season long. Junior Arianna Ramirez has been the engine, slashing .379 with 50 hits and a .423 on-base percentage while driving in 23 runs. Right behind her, Taralyn Ollison has delivered a steady bat, hitting .317 with 44 knocks, including a team-best eight doubles and three triples. Freshman McKenzy Becerra has added the thunder, leading the team with seven home runs, 30 RBIs, and a .574 slugging percentage. Senior Alayah Toscano has come through in key spots with 17 RBIs, and Michaella Salvatierra has created constant pressure with her speed, crossing the plate 25 times while going a perfect 9-for-9 on stolen base attempts.

In the circle, the Thunderbirds have pieced together a staff built on both durability and versatility. Sophomore Hannah Duncan has been the workhorse, logging a team-high 82 innings while racking up 62 strikeouts. She's handled everything from opening assignments to closing duties, tossing four complete games and picking up three saves. The Nielson sisters have provided a steady backbone, combining for 120 innings of work. Freshman Avery Nielson has emerged as a go-to option, leading the team with a 6-3 record while also securing four saves, while Riley Nielson has added three wins and two complete games of her own. Senior Delaney Baker has chipped in five wins across 54+ innings, highlighted by a dominant two-hit shutout against Maine in early March. As conference play heats up, Southern Utah's ability to lean on its arms could be the difference-maker down the stretch.

Across the Diamond

UT Arlington

UT Arlington's lineup features a potent mix of power and consistency, led by Dee McClarity (.347, 1.110 OPS) and Peyton Holland, who has blasted 12 home runs with 38 RBIs and 42 runs scored. Mia McNulty adds another big bat with 12 homers and 36 RBIs while hitting .339, and Marley Neises has driven in 35 runs with seven long balls. At the top, Valeria Feeney (.364) and Kaylee Schweitzer (.361) set the tone, helping power an offense hitting .302 as a team with 53 home runs on the year.

UT Arlington's pitching staff is anchored by Madi McDonnell and Maddie Furniss, who have handled the bulk of the innings in the circle. McDonnell has logged a team-high 101.2 innings with a 10-9 record across 32 appearances, while Furniss is close behind at 94.1 innings with an 8-6 mark and a staff-best 47 strikeouts. Kynlee Bowlin has added depth with 18 appearances and three complete games, giving the Mavericks another option. Overall, the duo of McDonnell and Furniss has carried the load, combining for 18 of the team's 21 wins.

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