The Southern Utah University softball team opened the season on a down note, suffering two mercy-rule losses to the No. 18 University of Arizona on Thursday, Feb. 5, in Tucson, Arizona.
Game one
The Wildcats got on the board early, as an error allowed a runner on third to make it home with two outs in the first. Arizona scored one run in each of the next innings, putting them up three while the T-Birds were still scoreless heading into the bottom of the fourth.
The Wildcats scored four more runs off a homer and aggressive baserunning from wild pitches.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Wildcats ended the game with another run to get the victory 8-0. The pitching from Jalen Adams dominated the Thunderbirds, as she had a five-inning no-hitter. SUU’s only baserunner came from a hit-by-pitch.
Game two
The Thunderbirds kept the game scoreless through the first four quarters, with Riley Nielson pitching a clean game. In the bottom of the fifth, the Wildcats broke free, scoring three runs before being shut down.
The game didn’t go on much longer, with Arizona quickly getting five more runs to shut down Southern Utah and win 8-0 in the sixth frame.
Top-T-Birds
— Taralyn Ollison had a double and single.
— The only other T-Birds to get hits were McKenzy Becerra and Arianna Ramirez.
— SUU only struck out once in the second game.
What’s next?
The Thunderbirds will stay in Arizona, but travel to Phoenix to compete in the Grand Canyon University Kickoff Classic. The team will first face Santa Clara University and then Grand Canyon University on Friday. On Saturday, the T-Birds will face GCU and Weber State University. Wrapping up, they will play just one game against Weber on Sunday. The two games against GCU will be streamed live on ESPN+.
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Author: Andrew Streeter
Photographer: SUU Athletics
Editor: Payson Davis
