In the midst of a four-game losing streak, the Southern Utah University women’s softball team hosted California Baptist University starting on Friday, Mar. 21. Southern Utah battles, winning two of the three games.
Following the series, Southern Utah rises to a 9-19 overall and 4-5 in Western Athletic Conference. California Baptist is now 15-17 in overall play and 3-3 in WAC play. Southern Utah is now 4-2 at home.
Game one
The Lancers opened the first game scoring a run in the first off the bat of Ashlee Annett. Ariyana Miranda responded in the bottom half of the first with a single up the middle, scoring Michella Salatierra.
Pirscilla Estrada answered in the top of the second, hitting an rbi single. Amyah Boostedt scored on a passed ball in the bottom half of the inning, tying things at two.
Both pitchers settled in, not allowing any runs over the next two and a half innings. In the bottom of the fifth, Southern Utah looked to break the tie. Miranda broke the tie with an rbi single to right field. Arianna Ramirez followed with a two-run home run, giving SUU the 5-2 lead.
Kate Penberthy answered back in the top of the sixth with a two-run single to cut the lead to one. SUU brought in Maddie Moreno in the seventh to close out the game. Moreno gave up one hit and a walk, but struck out two and secured the 5-4 win for SUU.
Game two
After holding CBU scoreless in the top of the first, SUU erupted for four runs in the bottom half of the inning. Kassidy Munoz started things off with a two-run single, followed by Boostedt and Alayah Toscano each knocking in a run.
The Lancers responded with fire of their own. California Baptist knocked in five runs in the inning, capped off by an rbi single off the bat of Matti Severns. Miranda responded for SUU, driving in a run in the bottom of the second, tying things up at five.
CBU continued the offensive onslaught with a pair of home runs off the bat of Sydney Soto and Stevie Robison, taking an 8-5 lead. After scoring two more runs in the bottom of the third, CBU responded with two runs in the top of the fourth taking a 10-7 lead.
Ramirez and Boostedt answered back for the Thunderbirds, hitting back-to-back home runs, tying the game at 10. Despite the even play, the Lancers separated themselves in the fifth inning. CBU scored five more runs in the fifth and three more in the sixth to take an 18-10 lead. With a chance to extend the lead, Salvatierra flew out to center field ending the game.
Game three
The game started off slowly, with neither team scoring a run until the third inning. This was a battle of the pitchers, both Emily Delgado from Southern Utah and Annika Hollingsworth from California Baptist were pitching gems early.
Ramirez opened things up in the bottom of the third, breaking the tie with a double to left-center field. California Baptist quickly gained ground on the Thunderbirds, scoring two runs in fifth, two in the sixth inning, taking a 4-1 lead.
The Lancers continued to extend their lead, with Severns hitting a sacrifice fly to left field. In the bottom of the seventh, CBU brought in Morgan McConnell to close things out. McConnell struggled early, giving up three singles in a row, followed by a walk, cutting the lead to three.
Munoz continued things for SUU, hitting a two-run double to left field, cutting the lead to one and putting the tying run on third. After an intentional walk, McConnell walked Toscano, tying the game at five. CBU then brought back Hollingsworth to try and send the game into extras.
With the bases still loaded, Belle Freund stepped up to bat for the T-birds. Freund hit a ball to deep right-center field, scoring Munoz and completing the 6-5 comeback.
Southern Utah will have a week break before heading to Grand Canyon University to face the Lopes starting on April 4. This game can be streamed on ESPN+.
Author: Jack Paul, Lexie Nelson
Photographer: Gannon Lovisa
Editor: Jack Paul