After traveling to St. George and winning a game against Utah Tech University, the Southern Utah University softball team hosted Utah State University to come away with back-to-back wins. The Thunderbirds will stay at home for a three-game series against the Redhawks of Seattle University. The first day will be a doubleheader on Saturday, April 13, at 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., followed by a single game on Sunday, April 14, at 12 p.m.
Seattle University
The Redhawks are fourth in the Western Athletic Conference standings with a 16-23 overall record and an 8-6 conference record. As pitchers, Avari Morris is eighth for hits per game in the WAC with 6.9, while Nicola Simpson is 10th for runs allowed with 4.2. Morris and Simpson are ranked fifth and 10th in strikeouts per game, respectively.
Seattle University has one of the best defenses in the conference with starting catcher Karen Spadafora and right fielder Ava Sin boasting a 1.000 fielding percentage. Spadafora ranks 10th in the WAC in putouts with 139, while Jasmine Wehn has 150 putouts that places her ninth in the conference.
Seattle will look for a win this weekend after losing to No. 9 University of Washington on Monday 0-3.
Southern Utah
The Thunderbirds have made a massive leap from last season. Southern Utah has an overall record of 16-19, 10 more wins than the 2023 season, with 12 games remaining. However, the Thunderbirds’ 5-9 conference record places them seventh in the standings.
Seattle University has to watch out for stolen bases because Southern Utah is fourth with 0.76 per game. Ariyana Miranda is one of the Thunderbirds’ best hitters, placing seventh in the conference for slugging percentage at .677 and fourth in home runs with nine on the season. Karmyna Becerra and Arianna Ramirez are also in the top 10 for home runs per game.
Emily Delgado has been having a great season on the pitcher’s mound. She is first in the WAC for strikeouts with 72 and fifth for the fewest home runs allowed at 0.35 per game. Emily Gonzalez has a 1.000 fielding percentage playing the infield, while Taralyn Ollison has offered the same production for Southern Utah’s outfield defense. Ramirez, however, leads the team in double plays and ranks sixth in the WAC with 10 this season.
The Thunderbirds are 4-7 all-time against Seattle University but have a chance to even things out this weekend.
Author: Chevy Blackburn
Photographer: Anden Garfield
Editor: Anden Garfield
sports@suunews.net
