CEDAR CITY, Utah - May 8 - Southern Utah picked up a key conference victory with a 6-1 win over Centenary College on Thursday afternoon. The win snaps a five-game losing skid for the Thunderbirds and moves SUU to 24-23 on the year and 11-9 in Summit League play. Centenary falls to 27-20 and 10-11 in conference play.

"The key for us in this game was Wittwer's performance," head coach David Eldredge said after the game. "He had a rough go at Western Illinois and we were hoping he could put that behind him and give us a couple of good starts as we head into the conference tournament. He did a really nice job today."

SUU starter Dustin Wittwer pitched seven innings, allowing only one run on three hits, four walks and three strikeouts. While Wittwer kept the Gentlemen's bats at bay, Southern Utah totaled 12 hits off Centenary pitching to churn out six runs.

The Thunderbirds opened the game with a two-run first inning as Keli'i Zablan, Ray Wright collected one-out singles with Bucky Aona right behind for another single to score Zablan from second base. Chester Wilson then successfully reached first base as the first baseman threw a ball to second base that hit Aona in the back. R. Wright scored on the play.

Centenary scored its lone run of the game in the top of the third as Jamor Tabor collected the second of his team-high three hits and then advanced to second on a walked batter and then third on a wild pitch. Tabor scored on the next at bat as the ball ricocheted off Wittwer's leg and rolled to first base for the out.

Southern Utah answered in the bottom of the inning with two more runs on four consecutive one-out singles by R. Wright, Aona, Wilson and Joe Wright with Wilson and J. Wright collecting the RBI.

The Thunderbirds scored again with two more runs in the bottom of the eighth as Aona collected his fourth single of the day to lead off the inning. Matt Sanford replaced Aona on the bags and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Wilson in the next at bat. He then advanced to third after beating out the throw from the short stop as J. Wright advanced to first on the infield single. Nelson's bunt on the next at bat was misplayed by the pitcher, causing him to slip, scoring Sanford. J. Wright then crossed the plate on a Jacob Romney sacrifice fly after advancing from second to third on a throwing error by the pitcher.

The Wright brothers joined Aona with a multiple hit game as Ray went 3-of-4 with two runs and Joe collected two hits on four at bats with a run and an RBI.

The teams will meet again tomorrow afternoon in a doubleheader beginning at Noon.