LAS VEGAS, Nev. - March 12 - Southern Utah got out to a quick start in game one and made a late push in game two, but came up short in both contests, falling in a doubleheader to Kennesaw State 16-4 and 12-6 on Friday. The two teams began the day at Rancho High School, finishing game two at Basic High School in Las Vegas as winter snows in Cedar City forced a change in venues.
SUU began game one with a pair of hits as Bo Cuthbertson recorded a lead-off single and then crossed the plate during the very next at bat as Marcus Romero drove an RBI double down the left field line. The runs continued for the T-Birds as Bucky Aona hit a two-run double to left field to bring Southern Utah's early advantage to 3-0.
The lead was short lived as Kennesaw State put four runs on the board in the top of the second inning, but an RBI ground ball off the bat of Matt Sanford in the home half of the inning tied the game at 4-4. However, late runs by the Owls, including six in the fifth and three in the eighth and ninth innings spelled defeat for the T-Birds.
Southern Utah was down 11-1 going into the bottom of the sixth inning in game two after D.J. Andrade recorded the T-Birds' only run on an RBI single in the bottom of the fourth inning. SUU looked to be on its way back into the game, recording five consecutive hits to begin the bottom of the sixth inning. The output led to five Thunderbird runs in the frame as Andrade, Chase Rezac and Kyle Melling each recorded RBI.
The come back was not to be as Southern Utah was held scoreless over the final three innings to suffer the 12-6 defeat. The losses drop the Thunderbirds to 0-10 on the year while Kennesaw State moves to 7-8.
The two teams will wrap up the three-game set on Saturday afternoon at Green Valley High School in Las Vegas. The game is scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m.
