Coming off their best season since 2014, going 20-29 on the year, the Southern Utah University women’s softball team will look to continue their success as they gear up for the 2025 season.
Despite losing two of the Thunderbirds’ top hitters, SUU is looking forward to having a lot of key pieces back.
Notable games
— Southern Utah will kick off their 2025 campaign at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Classic starting on Friday, Feb. 7.
— SUU will host Tarleton State University for their home opener on Friday, Mar. 7.
— The Western Athletic Conference Tournament will begin on Wednesday, May 8.
Key departures
One of the most significant losses for Southern Utah is junior Emily Gonzalez. The infielder from Yucaipa, California, transferred to Grand Canyon University. Gonzalez excelled for the Thunderbirds, batting a team-high .376 and was named First Team All-WAC.
Another key loss to the SUU squad is senior Karmyna Becerra. The infielder from El Centro, California, transferred to UNLV. In her junior year at SUU, Becerra led all Thunderbirds with 12 home runs.
Returning starters
Despite losing two top batters, Southern Utah is returning five starters from last year’s batting lineup. Although senior infielder Miranda Lopez has graduated, she will return as an assistant coach.
Catcher Kassidy Munoz is looking to build off her strong freshman season. The sophomore from Indio, California, was third on the team with a .316 batting average.
Another notable returner is redshirt senior Ariyana Miranda. The infielder from Elk Grove, California, was first on the team with 34 runs batted in and second in home runs with 11.
As for the pitching staff, SUU is returning all three starting pitchers from a season ago. Sophomore pitcher Emily Delgado thrived as a freshman, ranking in the top-20 in the WAC with a 4.40 earned run average.
Delgado also led the Thunderbirds with 149.2 innings pitched, 101 strikeouts and five complete games. Junior Delaney Baker was second on the team with a 4.72 ERA and 83 innings pitched.
Incoming players
Two notable incoming transfers for Southern Utah are sisters Tessa and Tasha Hokanson. Both players previously attended College of Southern Idaho.
Tessa, a third-year infielder, was named Region 18 Player of the Year in 2024, where she batted .477, hit a team-high 28 home runs, and was second on the team with 71 RBIs.
Tasha, a catcher now for Southern Utah, is coming off a season with an on-base percentage of .538, ranking second on the team.
Notable incoming freshman
Along with Tessa and Tasha, there are six incoming freshmen for Southern Utah:
— Utility Aubrie Burgos from Peoria, Arizona
— Catcher/Utility Michelle De La Cruz from Las Vegas
— Utility Isabella Knight from West Jordan, Utah
— Pitcher Maddie Moreno from Fullerton, California
— Infielder Tawnie Mozeris from Peoria, Arizona
— Outfielder Michaella Salvatierra from Chula Vista, California
In the WAC coaches poll, Southern Utah has been picked to finish last in the conference.
Author: Jack Paul
Photographer: Gannon Lovisa
Editor: Chevy Blackburn
