Thunderbirds Come Up Just Short at Kansas
LAWRENCE, Kansas –March 21, Southern Utah ended up playing only a single game in its trip to Kansas this week after rain first postponed a game scheduled for Tuesday and then lead to the cancellation of the make-up game. The Thunderbirds fell behind early in the lone contest played on Wednesday morning but came back to claim a 10-7 advantage behind a pair of two-run homeruns from shortstop Bo Cuthbertson. A two-run RBI single from the Jayhawks Ka’iana Eldredge sent the game into extra innings and after an hour long rain delay the second baseman then tallied the walk-off RBI single in the eleventh to seal the 11-10 victory for the home team.
The Jayhawks got on the board first in the opening frame as Eldredge singled down the left field line and then came around to score on an RBI single hit to centerfield by Alex DeLeon to put KU up 1-0.
Southern Utah posted three consecutive doubles in the top of the third to plate a pair of runs and go ahead by a count of 2-1. Taylor Shaw used a two-out double to get on base and was driven in by Bo Cuthbertson to tie the game. Marcus Romero added the third extra-base hit of the inning to bring Cuthbertson home and give SUU the one-run lead.
Kansas came back with four runs on five hits in the bottom half of the frame to go up 5-2. Eldredge hit a single to left to drive in the tying run and then scored a run on a two-run RBI single off the bat of Connor McKay.
The Thunderbirds were able to trim the deficit with two runs in the top of the fifth to bring the score to 5-4. Brad Royer drove an RBI double to deep left field and was then caught up in a rundown between second and third. The KU third baseman made an errant throw that went into right field allowing Royer to reach home for a score to bring SUU within a run.
The Jayhawks were able to match the effort with a pair of runs in their half of the frame to extend the lead back to three at 7-4.
Southern Utah rallied once again in the top of the seventh with four runs to take an 8-7 advantage. Cuthbertson started the scoring by ripping a ball over the right field wall for a two-run homerun. Bryson Kenolio followed up the blast with a double and then came around to score when Justin Neuhart singled up the middle. Mitchell Kauweloa added a double to deep left center to score Neuhart and give the Thunderbirds a one-run lead.
Cuthbertson came through for SUU again in the eighth inning as the Southern Utah shortstop drove another homerun to right field to put the Thunderbirds out in front 10-7.
After getting a run back in the eighth, the Jayhawks loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth before Eldredge came to the plate. The KU second baseman drove a ball through the right side to bring in two runs and tie the game at 10-10. Then after playing the majority of the game through a rainstorm, play was suspended for over an hour following the ninth inning. The younger Eldredge would prove to be the hero again after play resumed, hitting a walk-off infield single to bring in the winning run, setting the final score at 11-10.
Eldredge posted his best performance of the season while taking on his father’s club, finishing the day 5-for-7 at the plate with four RBI and two runs scored. Cuthbertsons was 4-for-4 four Southern Utah while collecting five RBI and four runs on two homeruns. Royer also turned in a solid performance at the plate going 4-for-5 in the leadoff spot with an RBI and a run scored.
Drew Morovick picked up the win for the Jayhawks to improve to 2-1 after holding SUU scoreless during the tenth and eleventh innings to help Kansas get back to .500 with a record of 10-10. Kolby Rimer falls to 0-1 after taking the loss for Southern Utah who drops to 3-16 on the season.
The Thunderbirds will return home this weekend for a pair of games with Chicago State. SUU and the Cougars will get things underway on Friday at 3 p.m. and then meet in a second contest on Saturday at noon.
