The Southern Utah University softball team lost their three-game series against California Baptist University on Friday, March 22, and Saturday, March 23. The Thunderbirds are currently seventh in the Western Athletic Conference standings, and the Cal Baptist Lancers are in the top spot following the series.
Game 1
The Thunderbirds were unable to put any runs on the board until the fourth inning when they had a string of hits in their lineup, starting with a single by Emily Gonzalez.
Arianna Ramirez followed with a double, moving both players into scoring position. Gonzalez scored on a sacrifice fly to center field by Ariyana Miranda.
SUU pitcher Emily Delgado carried the bulk of the game until the sixth inning, when Shelby Basso came in for relief.
Delgado allowed six runs to score, and Basso allowed three.
Kayla Lyon had a hot bat this game for the Lancers: she hit two home runs, one of which secured the walk-off win in the sixth inning due to the eight-run mercy rule. Lyon’s bat secured six of the Lancers’ nine runs.
Jazmine Castaneda threw the whole game for the Lancers, only allowing the Thunderbirds to score one run.
The Lancers won game one of the series in six innings 9-1.
Game 2
Despite having not seen much action this season, Grace Owen started the game in the circle for the Thunderbirds. She threw five innings and gave up nine runs until Delaney Baker stepped in for the final two innings. Baker did not allow the Lancers to score any runs.
The Thunderbirds scored their first run in the second inning when Miranda hit home base on a sacrifice bunt by Alayah Toscano.
The final three runs came from multiple hits strung together by the bulk of the Thunderbird lineup. Laurie Cooke stole second base by leading off the rally with a single, which was followed by another single by Karmyna Becerra.
Miranda Lopez scored the third run for the Thunderbirds when her line drive to the outfield scored Cooke. Becerra then scored on a single from Gonzalez. Even after the Thunderbirds’ three-run rally, they were unable to come back from the previous eight-run deficit.
The Lancers had a huge offensive rally in the fourth inning after they put multiple hits on the board, including a Kate Penberthy grand slam.
Presley Hosick threw the whole game for the Lancers and was able to hold the Thunderbirds to four runs.
The Thunderbirds lost game two 9-4.
Game 3
Baker held the Lancers to four runs during her pitching time. In the fifth inning, Owen came in to relieve her and gave up two runs.
The Lancers scored two runs in the first inning on a couple of singles. Both teams sat scoreless until the Lancers’ two runs in the fifth.
Valerie Alvarez and Ashlee Annett both had hard hits to the outfield to get them on base. Maya Martinez came into the game to pinch hit and hit a double, scoring Alvarez and Annett.
Morgan McConnell held the Thunderbirds scoreless. She threw all seven innings for the Lancers but only struck out two batters.
The final game of the weekend ended with the Lancers shutting down the Thunderbirds 6-0.
Up next
The Thunderbirds will head to Salt Lake City on Tuesday, March 26, to take on the University of Utah Utes at 4 p.m. The game can be streamed on the Pac-12 Network.
Author: Maggie Whipple
Photographer: Anden Garfield
Editor: Anden Garfield
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