On Tuesday, March 5, the Southern Utah University softball team lost their first home game of the season 13-4 against the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Leading the Thunderbirds in the circle was freshman Emily Delgado, who pitched three and two-thirds innings until Janyssa Martin hit a home run in the fourth. That resulted in Delaney Baker coming into the game for relief.
For the Rebels, Alanna Thiede held it down on the mound for six innings, keeping the Thunderbirds to three runs. Ellie Zellien then stepped in and threw the remainder of the game, allowing only one run to score at the end of the sixth.
UNLV woke the bats up quickly in the top of the first inning when they strung together four hits to score two runs. The following inning was scoreless for both teams.
In the third inning, however, the Rebels scored another two runs off two hits, making the score 4-0. Maddie Schmidt led off the inning with a single, followed by Delgado hitting Martin with a pitch. Kelsie Kelso and Sofia Morales took advantage of the free base by making solid contact, scoring one run each.
The Thunderbirds started to respond with their bats in the bottom of the third when Alayah Toscano hit a leadoff single and stole second base to put herself in scoring position. Laurie Cook stepped up next and hit a double that scored Toscano, making the score 4-1.
UNLV secured some insurance runs in the top of the fourth. Schmidt contributed an RBI single before scoring on a hit by Alyssa Trejo. Shortly after, Martin stepped up to the plate for the Rebels and hit a two-run shot, increasing the score to 8-1 headed into the final two innings.
In the bottom of the fifth, SUU brought in another run when Karmyna Becerra doubled, scoring Toscano after her leadoff double earlier in the inning.
The score remained 8-2 until the sixth inning when two doubles by Thunderbirds Emily Gonzalez and Bella Garcia scored a run and forced a pitching change for the Rebels. The Thunderbirds scored one more run in the remainder of the sixth after Thiede was put in to throw. Heading into the game’s final inning, the score was 8-4.
More Rebel insurance runs came in the top of the seventh after Baker walked three batters With the bases loaded, Trejo hit a double to score all three runners. Martin hit another double and scored Bri Williams, who was running for Trejo.
Shelby Basso came into the circle as the last Thunderbird substitution at the top of the seventh inning. Basso allowed one final run to score.
Unfortunately for Southern Utah, they could not return from the deficit and ended the game with a final score of 13-4.
Author: Maggie Whipple
Photographer: Anden Garfield
Editor: Anden Garfield
sports@suunews.net
