TULSA, Okla. - May 22 - Southern Utah dropped its opening round game of The Summit League Baseball Tournament as the Thunderbirds came out on the short side of a 9-6 decision to Western Illinois on Thursday afternoon. The loss puts SUU in the losers bracket with the team facing the loser of the Oral Roberts/Centenary nightcap tomorrow morning at 11:00 a.m.
"We weren't able to minimize that one big inning they had," head coach David Eldredge said of the seven-run third for the Leathernecks. "I thought our bats did a good job, but we're going to have to take care of business tomorrow."
Neither team put runs on the board until Western Illinois finally broke through in the top of the third inning with an RBI single through the right side.
The Leathernecks then opened up a big lead with seven runs in the top of the fourth, taking a lead of 8-0 into the bottom half of the frame.
Southern Utah put its first runs on the board with four answering runs in the home half of the inning, beginning with a lead-off double by Ray Wright. Chester Wilson then drove home the first run with an RBI single to right center. Mac Nelson brought home the second run with an RBI sacrifice fly to right field and then was followed by an RBI single by Colby Ford. Nick Freitas' single scored the final run of the inning as Cameron Nelson scored from third base.
SUU scored another run in the bottom of the fifth, trimming the WIU advantage to 8-5, as Joe Wright singled to right to score brother Ray on third base.
Western Illinois matched the run with a run of its own in the top of the sixth, but four consecutive walks in the bottom of the sixth added a run to Southern Utah's total as the teams broke even in the frame.
Both teams were held scoreless over the final three innings as the Leathernecks captured the 9-6 victory.
WIU's Cole Waddell led all hitters with four RBI on 4-of-4 hitting from the plate as Southern Utah's Bucky Aona and Joe Wright each collected two hits and an RBI for the T-Birds. Other highlights for the Thunderbirds included Nick Freitas tying the single season stolen base record with his 33rd swipe of the year in the sixth inning. SUU reliever Kyle Hamman was also strong out of the T-Bird pen in 3.2 innings, allowing only one hit and no runs with three strikeouts.
Southern Utah will now play in the first game on Friday morning against the loser of the Oral Roberts/Centenary game.
