On Tuesday, March 5, the Southern Utah University softball team will compete in their first home game of the season against the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. The Thunderbirds and the Rebels competed against each other two weekends ago at the UNLV Classic, where they lost 10-2.
UNLV
UNLV is 10-8 on the season so far and competes in the Mountain West Conference. This will be the last time this season that the Rebels will go head to head with the Thunderbirds because conference play begins on March 15.
Offensively, Maddie Schmidt is leading her team with a .400 batting average, consistently batting at the top of the lineup. Ariana Martinez is a clutch power hitter for the Rebels with 24 runs batted in. Martinez is also leading her team with four home runs and five doubles, and she has earned an on-base plus slugging percentage of 1.164.
In the circle, the Rebels are constantly throwing Alanna Thiede, who secured seven of the teams 10 wins. She has thrown 53 innings for UNLV, and her teammate Ellie Zellien is behind her with 38 innings.
With only four pitchers on their roster, the Rebels have a small but strong pitching staff. Zellien and Thiede carry that lineup by throwing 90 of the 112 innings. Thiede has an earned run average of 1.62 and is lights out with 38 strikeouts this season. Zellien has an ERA of 3.65 and holds 28 strikeouts this year.
The Rebels have an overall batting average of .302 and an overall ERA of 2.69.
SUU
The Thunderbirds will compete in the Western Athletic Conference for their second year and are currently No. 2 in their conference with a 10-9 record.
Ariyana Miranda is a beast at the plate for the Thunderbirds with 16 RBIs, nearly double than the rest of her team, and has hit seven home runs this season. She has a .323 batting average and an OPS of 1.074.
Miranda is not the only Thunderbird making a difference in the lineup. Karmyna Becerra is leading her team with a .400 batting average and has 26 hits on the season, eight of those being doubles. Becerra has an OPS of 1.050.
Leading the Thunderbirds on the mound is Emily Delgado with a 4.09 ERA and three wins for her team. Delgado has 53 innings on the season and 33 strikeouts. Kiemon Winston is another strong arm to expect in the circle with an ERA of 3.86 and 22 strikeouts this year.
The Thunderbirds have an overall batting average of .266 and an ERA of 4.39.
Author: Maggie Whipple
Photographer: Anden Garfield
Editor: Anden Garfield
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