St. George, Utah - March 12, 2010 - Aly Daniels pounded a
three-run walk-off home run in the 10th inning to give Southern Utah
a 6-4 win over South Dakota State in the second game of Friday's
double-header. The Jackrabbits took the
first game 10-0.
The games marked the Summit League opener for both
teams. The double-header was
scheduled to be played at Kathryn Berg Field in Cedar City, but snowfall early
in the week necessitated moving the games to nearby St. George.
Game One:
Southern Utah came out sluggish, surrendering six runs in
the first inning on four hits and a pair of Thunderbird errors. South Dakota State picked up another run in the third to
make it 7-0, Jackrabbits.
A pair of walks, and two doubles led to three more SDSU runs
in the fourth. The Jacks held off
Southern Utah in the bottom half of the fourth and fifth to take the 10-0,
five-inning win.
Norian James went two-for-three. Stephanie DeJesus also picked up a hit-the only three hits
allowed by SDSU starter Kori Seidlitz (5-8). Bubba Kearns (2-8) took the loss.
Game Two:
The Jacks also drew first blood in game two, plating a
single run in the second inning. Southern Utah responded with two in the third to take the
2-1 lead.
Speedy slap-hitter Norian James led off with an infield
single. Ariel Morbeck reached
first on a fielders choice with James out at second.
Brittany Henderson then laced a triple down the right field
line to score Morbeck from first.
Aly Daniels next grounded out to her counterpart at short to score
Henderson.
South Dakota State recaptured the lead in the fourth with
two runs on a two-run home run by pitcher Pam Nicholson, making it 3-2,
Rabbits.
Southern Utah placed the tying and winning runners on second
and third with one out, but could only push one across to take the game into extra
innings.
Neither team scored in the extra frames until the top of the
tenth, when SDSU's Devon Reick doubled to score Kori Seidlitz-in the game in relief of
Nicholson.
Down 4-3 in the bottom of the tenth, Ariel Morbeck singled
to lead off, and Brittany Henderson
out-hustled the throw on a would-be sacrifice bunt.
Aly Daniels then homered to left field to win it, 6-4 for
the Thunderbirds.
Bubba Kearns (3-8) picked up the win; Kori Seidlitz (5-9)
took the loss.
The battle of the Birds and the Bunnies continues Saturday. First pitch for the rubber match is
scheduled for 12:00 noon. The game
will again be played at the Dixie State College softball field in St. George.
