Southern Utah University and Utah Valley University split a softball doubleheader on May 1, with Southern Utah dropping the first game 10-7 before bouncing back to win the second game 5-3. The teams will play again on Saturday to determine the fourth seed for next week’s Western Athletic Conference tournament.
The outcome of these games is important as both teams are competing for a higher seeding in the upcoming conference tournament. Saturday’s rubber match will decide which team secures the fourth spot.
Junior Arianna Ramirez led Southern Utah offensively, collecting five hits across both games, including four singles and a home run, along with three runs batted in. Sophomore Michaella Salvatierra also contributed five hits—four singles and a triple—and drove in three runs. Freshmen McKenzy Becerra and Savannah Lira each hit solo home runs during Friday’s contests.
In pitching, sophomore Hannah Duncan threw five innings over two games, allowing three runs on six hits with two strikeouts. Redshirt junior Riley Nielson earned the win in game two by holding Utah Valley to one hit over three innings of relief.
Utah Valley started strong in game one with five runs in the first inning and extended their lead throughout early frames. Despite trailing by as many as nine runs, Southern Utah rallied late but ultimately fell short. In game two, Ramirez hit a two-run homer to tie it early before key plays from Knight, Ollison, Salvatierra, and Becerra helped secure the victory for Southern Utah.
The Thunderbirds’ final regular season game is scheduled for Saturday at noon Mountain Time. The team will honor its seniors before first pitch. Fans can watch all games on ESPN+ or follow live statistics through suutbirds.com.
