Southern Utah Snaps Skid with 10-4 Victory over Kennesaw State
LAS VEGAS, Nev. - March 13 - Southern Utah snapped a ten-game losing streak by scoring nine runs over the final three frames to post a 10-4 victory over the Kennesaw State Owls on Saturday afternoon. The win moves the T-Birds to 1-10 on the year while Kennesaw drops to 7-9.
The day started slowly for SUU as the T-Birds fell behind 3-0 going into the bottom of the third inning. The doughnut on the scoreboard looked like it would melt away in the home half of the inning as Southern Utah loaded the bases with no outs. However, the Owls were able to dodge a bullet as Thunderbird batters went down swinging with three consecutive strikeouts.
Kennesaw State was up 4-0 when SUU finally broke through with a run in the bottom of the fourth inning as Brock Westphal's crossed the plate on a passed ball after leading off the frame with a walk.
Southern Utah tied the game at 4-4 with a three-run sixth inning as Marcus Romero led off the frame with a walk. Bucky Aona followed with a single and the pair crossed home plate on a two-run double by Westphal during the next at bat. Westphal recorded his second run of the game, scoring a ground ball off the bat of Taylor Shaw.
Bo Cuthbertson gave Southern Utah the lead in the seventh inning as an errant throw by the KSU defense allowed the sophomore to turn a single into a double. Following a balk, Cuthbertson crossed home plate on a sacrifice fly off the bat of D.J. Andrade to give SUU a 5-4 advantage.
The Thunderbird victory was cemented in the bottom of the eighth inning as Southern Utah scored five runs, making the most of three walks and three hits. Taylor Shaw and Bo Cuthbertson each recorded two-run hits in the frame with the later recording a two-run triple. The five spot in the eighth and a one-two-three inning recorded by Kelsey Outram in the top of the ninth inning gave the T-Birds the 10-4 victory.
Outram was awarded the victory after 2.1 innings of relief, holding the Owls without a run or hit while recording two strikeouts and one walk. Braden Yardley was also strong out of the bullpen, allowing only three hits while recording two strikeouts in 1.2 innings.
Southern Utah will return to the diamond next week as the Thunderbirds begin a spring break tour to Florida and face Florida International and Chicago State in a five-game set in Palm Beach.
