The Southern Utah University softball team will travel to Riverside to take on California Baptist University in a three-game series, starting with a doubleheader on Friday, March 22, at 5 p.m and 7:30 p.m. MDT. The series finale will follow on Saturday, March 23, at 5 p.m. MDT. This will be the first road conference series for the Thunderbirds this year.
California Baptist
The Lancers enter this week 14-15 overall and 1-1 in the Western Athletic Conference. CBU won last season’s series over SUU 2-1.
Head coach Mike Smith coached CBU from 2004-2011 and, since 2021, is now in his second stint with the Lancers.
As a team, CBU is No. 2 in the WAC in team batting average at .304 and in team earned run average at 2.69. Freshman outfielder Matti Severns leads California Baptist with a .370 batting average and is tied for No. 1 on the team with five stolen bases. Graduate student Kalena Burns leads the Lancers with four home runs and 13 base on balls.
Southern Utah
After a disappointing 6-33 season just a year ago, the Thunderbirds are 12-11 overall and 2-1 in conference play to start their 2024 campaign. In SUU’s 12 wins, the Thunderbirds have given up just 1.6 runs per game. In their 11 losses, Southern Utah gave up 8.3 runs per game.
Ariyana Miranda has been on a tear recently. The junior infielder leads Southern Utah and the WAC in home runs with eight and leads the team in runs batted in with 18.
The struggles for the Thunderbirds have come from the pitching staff. SUU ranks No. 5 in the conference with a 4.60 ERA, as Southern Utah relies on a younger rotation. Freshman Emily Delgado leads the team with 69.2 innings pitched with sophomore Delaney Baker behind her at 41.1.
Author: Jack Paul
Photographer: Anden Garfield
Editor: Anden Garfield
sports@suunews.net
