CEDAR CITY, Utah - Southern Utah University softball will open its 2012 season this weekend when the Thunderbirds face Utah Valley University in St. George, Utah. The games on Saturday and Sunday are scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m. with both contests taking place at Dixie State College.

The Thunderbirds lost nearly as many letter-winners as will return in 2012 as the team saw the departure of 10 student-athletes and the return of 12. Among the returners are second-team all-Summit League pitcher Heather Black and Summit League all-tournament team member Madison Resley.

Southern Utah's roster will also have a large infusion of new talent with nine new faces looking to make their mark on the program. The list includes a member of the Canadian Junior National team in Tessa Loewen, a member of the Canadian National team pool in Kelsey Bryant and a two-time junior college all-American in Mikkel Griffin.

Fans can follow the game with live stats anticipated to be available online at www.suutbirds.com.

2011 Recap

Southern Utah qualified as the fourth seed to the Summit League tournament and won its opening round game, 1-0, over the UMKC Kangaroos. However the Thunderbirds dropped both games during the second day of the tournament with an 8-0 setback to North Dakota State and a 4-3 loss to UMKC. SUU finishing the 2011 season with an overall record of 25-34, including a Summit League record of 14-10.

Scouting Utah Valley

Utah Valley University was selected to finish third in the Mountain Division of the Pacific Coast Softball Conference, finishing behind Portland State and Northern Colorado. The Wolverines finished in third place during the 2011 season with a conference mark of 12-8 and an overall record of 20-30.

UVU hit .268 from the plate in 2011 and will returns a trio of players that hit over .300 last season, including Amanda Perez (.324), Amanda Robinson (.324) and Delanna Russell (.304). Perez and Robinson were also tops for the Wolverines in home runs last season as each hit nine.

Utah Valley also returns its top pitcher from 2011 in Josi Summers. The sophomore led the Wolverines with 14 victories, 142 strikeouts and 174.1 innings pitched last season.

Last time against Utah Valley

Southern Utah posted a pair of victories over Utah Valley in 2011 in Orem, including victories of 6-2 and 5-4. UVU led in the first game 2-0 before the Thunderbirds scored six unanswered runs for the win. In game two, SUU led 4-0 before Utah Valley came back to tie the game at 4-4. A two-out double by Southern Utah's Haylee Hoch in the top of the seventh broke the tie and gave the Thunderbirds the 5-4 win.

Picked Fourth

Southern Utah University was picked fourth in the annual Summit League preseason coaches' poll. The Thunderbirds earned 44 points, finishing just behind IPFW in third place with 46 points. UMKC and North Dakota State were picked first and second with 61 and 60 points and five and four first-place votes, respectively.

2012 Summit League Preseason Coaches' Poll

For the complete release, please click on the associated link.