Looking to rebound from a disappointing series against Grand Canyon University, the Southern Utah University women’s softball team hosted Utah Tech University on Friday, April 11, and Saturday, April 12.
Southern Utah struggled in game one but bounced back in games two and three, winning the series. With the wins, SUU improves to 11-23 on the year and 6-9 in the Western Athletic Conference. Utah Tech falls to 15-27 overall and 4-11 in the WAC.
Game one
The first game started out hot with senior Carly Eldredge hitting a two-run single in the top of the first. SUU answered back with a run off an error, cutting the lead to one.
After a scoreless second inning, Eldredge hit another two-run single, giving the Trailblazers a 4-1 lead. Ariyana Miranda and Arianna Ramirez responded by both teams knocking in runs and cutting the lead back to one.
Looking to break the game open, freshman Kennedy Embrey smashed a three-run home run to center field, leading to a five-run fifth inning for the Trailblazers. Utah Tech would tack on three more runs in the next two innings, taking the first game 12-6.
Game two
Game two featured no shortage of runs. Southern Utah opened in the bottom of the first, scoring two runs off the bats of Miranda and Ramirez. Jorja Crider answered back, hitting a home run in the top of the second.
Utah Tech continued to hit in the third, scoring four runs and taking a 5-2 lead. With the bases loaded at the bottom of the third, Isabella Knight was hit by a pitch, scoring a run. Michaella Salvatierra followed with a base hit, cutting the lead to one.
After giving up two runs in the top of the fourth, SUU responded, scoring five straight runs over the next three innings, taking a 9-6 lead. In the top of the seventh, Embery and Crider hit home runs for the Trailblazers, cutting the lead to one.
Despite the two home runs, Emily Delgado was able to complete the game, securing the 9-8 win for the T-Birds.
Game three
Like the first two games, both offenses started out hot in the first inning. Utah Tech scored seven runs in the top of the first, capped off by a two-run single from Kinley Pappas. Southern Utah came back in the bottom of the first, thanks to home runs from Kassidy Munoz and Amyah Boostedt, cutting the lead to three.
After a pair of scoreless innings, Utah Tech scored another four runs, thanks to a solo home run by Rylie Haith in the top of the fourth. Despite a run in the bottom of the fourth, SUU found themselves down 11-5.
In the bottom of the fifth, SUU caught fire, plating six runs, capped off by an RBI triple from Salvatierra, tying the game up at 11. In the bottom of the sixth with the bases loaded, Taralyn Ollison hit a three-run triple, giving SUU the 14-11 win.
What’s next?
Southern Utah will travel to Washington to face Seattle University in a three-game series starting on Friday, April 18, at 4 p.m. All three games can be streamed on ESPN+.
Author: Jack Paul
Photographer: SUU Athletics
Editor: Chevy Blackburn
