ST. GEORGE — A three-run rally in the top of the seventh inning gave Southern Utah Univesity a 7-6 lead and provided the slim margin needed to defeat Utah Tech in Wednesday’s opening round of the Western Athletic Conference softball tournament at Logan Field in Seattle, Washington.
The Trailblazers’ season ended after a 19-31 2024 campaign and a No. 5 seed in the post-season tournament. The No. 8 Thunderbirds (21-28) advanced to take on Seattle U Wednesday night but were defeated 4-3 and now face No. 2 Cal Baptist Thursday at 5 p.m.
“This team has grit and guts,” SUU coach Don Don Williams said in a news release. “I could not be more proud of how they are performing. We have said all year that we are either winning or learning. We got some feedback tonight. We will bounce tomorrow.”
Utah Tech outhit Southern Utah 14-8 in the contest but was unable to overcome a three-run seventh inning for the Thunderbirds, according to a news release. The Trailblazers were led by a pair of three-hit performances from Carly Eldredge and Laura Lockard along with two-hit outings from both Marisa Rubio and Oaklee Trapp.
Meanwhile, SUU was paced by first team All-WAC sophomore Emily Gonzalez, who sent Utah Tech pitcher Attlyn Johnston’s first pitch over the fence to give the Thunderbirds an early lead in what proved to be a back-and-forth affair.
After the Trailblazers stranded a pair of runners on base in the second, Utah Tech knotted up the game at one apiece in the third inning with a one-out RBI single through the left side by Lockard that drove home Eldredge from third.
SUU put together a three-run fourth inning to push ahead 4-1, getting a bases-loaded walk followed by a two-run RBI single. The Blazers wasted no time answering back with back-to-back RBI base knocks from Eldredge and LB Kahahawai-Kekona to cut SUU’s lead down to one at 4-3 after four innings.
A three-run sixth moved the Trailblazers in front by a pair of runs. Sadie Gardner got the action started with a one-out double to left field and moved to third on a single by Eldredge.
A throwing error by SUU at second base allowed Gardner to score to tie the game at four and after a single by Lockard loaded the bases, a two-run RBI single to left field by Rubio drove home both Kahahawai-Kekona and Lockard for a 6-4 lead.
The lead for the Trailblazers was shortlived as the Thunderbirds answered back with three quick runs in the top of the seventh. A leadoff walk followed by a single and hit by pitch loaded the bases before an RBI single and sacrifice fly scored two runs to tie the game at six apiece.
A bases-loaded walk by Leone pushed Southern Utah back in the lead, 7-6 with Denhart coming in with two outs to get a flyout to center to strand the bases loaded and give the Trailblazers a chance in the bottom of the frame
The Blazers tallied three doubles, one apiece from Eldredge, Trapp and Gardner, and got base knocks overall from eight different Trailblazers. In the circle, Johnston made her 23rd start of the season tossing six innings striking out five while allowing eight hits and seven earned runs.
SUU pitcher Emily Delgado went the distance to improve to 7-9 overall. She scattered 14 hits over seven innings, struck out seven and didn’t walk a batter. Gonzalez walked three times after her leadoff homer, scored another run and was credited with an RBI when she walked with the bases load. Designated hitter Ariyana Miranda went 3-for-4 with one run scored and two RBIs.
Updated 1:35 p.m. May 9: Adds quote from coach and results from Wednesday night game between SUU and Seattle.