TULSA, Okla. - May 22 - Southern Utah finally broke through against the
Leathernecks of Western Illinois, taking a 9-3 victory on Friday night
to advance to the championship game in The Summit League Baseball
Tournament. SUU will make its first appearance in the championship
game since 2004 and secured a team-best 31st victory with the win,
while Western Illinois' season comes to an end despite sweeping the
Thunderbirds in the first five games between the two teams this season.
The Leathernecks entered the game having just finished a 15-9 ten-inning defeat to Oral Roberts with 40 minutes separating each game. The quick turn around didn't seem to phase WIU in the beginning as Western scored the first run of the contest in the top of the first.
Ray Wright quickly tied the game in the bottom of the first inning as the junior crushed a home run over the right field fence, marking one of four home runs for the Thunderbirds during the game.
SUU bats struck again as Matthew Bezzant drilled a two-run home run in the second inning to give the T-Birds a 3-1 advantage.
Southern Utah starter Alec Reichle held the Leathernecks without a run in the second through sixth inning, retiring nine consecutive batters during the scoring drought. In all, Reichle allowed two runs (both earned) on seven hits and a walk in 6.1 innings for the win. Reichle was replaced by Jacob Noyes in the top of the seventh with the junior collecting his fifth save of the year in 2.2 innings, allowing one run on two hits, a walk and two strikeouts.
The home run parade continued for the Thunderbirds in the bottom of the sixth as Nick Freitas rounded the bases with his team-leading 16th home run of the season, moving to No. 2 all-time in the category.
Southern Utah opened the game up in the bottom of the eighth inning with the score 4-2 as Freitas opened the frame with a lead-off single. Freitas advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Bucky Aona. A walk drawn by Chester Wilson put men on first and second, but a ground ball to the shortstop led to the second out of the inning, but left men on the corners for the T-Birds.
Mac Nelson brought in the first run of the inning with an RBI single and then crossed the plate in the next at bat as part of the three-run home run by Cameron Nelson, lifting the Thunderbirds to a 8-2 lead.
The advantage continue to grow as Southern Utah tacked on one more run as Colby Ford collected his third hit of the game and traded bases with Ray Wright as the junior knocked a double to right center. Ford finished the game with a perfect 3-for-3 mark, including a run and walk.
Western Illinois scored its final run in the top of the ninth as SUU narrowly missed turning a pair of double plays, bringing the final score to 9-3 in favor of the Thunderbirds.
Southern Utah will now have its first shot against Oral Roberts in the tournament when the two teams face off in the championship game Saturday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. The Thunderbirds will need to take two from the Golden Eagles for a chance to advance to the NCAA post-season and claim the team's first ever Summit League title in baseball.
