PALM BEACH, Fla. - March 17 - A spring break trip for Southern Utah baseball continues to be successful as the Thunderbirds posted a 9-2 victory over Chicago State on Wednesday afternoon. The win moves the T-Birds to 3-10 on the season while CSU drops to 0-6.
Southern Utah didn't have to wait very long for a lead as Brock Westphal recorded a two-run single in the top of the first to drive in Bucky Aona and Matt Sanford. Another run in the top of the second on an RBI walk by Sanford and a run in the top of the third on an RBI single by Joe Goldenberg gave the T-Birds an early 4-0 lead.
Chicago State scored in the bottom of the third as Southern Utah starter Cody Eliason walked the first CSU batter and hit the next. Both runners ultimately scored on RBI singles later in the inning.
However, the runs were the only allowed by the T-Birds during the contest as Eliason threw 6.2 innings, allowing two runs (both earned) on four hits and one walk while recording five strikeouts in his first win of the season. Levi Swenson and KC Sandstrom came out of the bullpen to throw the final 2.1 innings, holding the Cougars without a run or hit while tallying one and three strikeouts, respectively.
Southern Utah extended its lead with more runs in the top of the sixth, seventh and ninth innings. Goldenberg made the most of a poor throw by Chicago State's third baseman in the sixth, advancing all the way to second in leading off the inning. He later traveled the rest of the way around the bases on a ground ball by Bo Cuthbertson and an RBI single by Brandon Romero.
Goldenberg returned in the seventh inning to record his second and third RBI of the day on a two-run double, notching Southern Utah's runs in that frame. Mitchell Kauweloa's home run, his second of the season, in the top of the ninth inning drove home two runs and capped the Thunderbirds' scoring during the afternoon.
Southern Utah will now take a one-game break from its four-game set with Chicago State when the team travels to Miami to face Florida International tomorrow night. Fans can follow that game online via the live stats link on the schedule page with the first pitch scheduled for 4:00 p.m. (MT).
