PHOENIX, Ariz. - The Southern Utah softball squad clinched its second straight triumph against the hosts at the Grand Canyon Invitational in Phoenix, Ariz.  SUU collected a 9-3 victory versus the Antelopes after a tough 6-3 loss to New Mexico State to start the day.

One night after helping freshman Tyler Denhart to a victory against her older sister Ryan in the Battle of the Denharts, SUU took down GCU again this evening behind a strong offensive effort that featured nine hits. 

"We earned another quality win today," head coach Don Don Williams said. "Our defense came through clutch today and our offense produced timely hits to push runs across when we needed them. This was a solid team win for the program."

Brooke Brown and reigning Big Sky Player of the Week Josey White both saw the ball well against GCU.  Brown went 3-for-4 with 3 RBI, while White went 2-for-4 with 2 RBI and a homerun in the nightcap. 

Payton Goodrich picked up the win with a strikeout, two flyouts and six groundouts in three innings of work.  Grace Owen pitched four innings with a strikeout, five flyouts and four groundouts to complete the SUU effort in the circle. 

The T-Birds wasted no time during the second game of the day, jumping all over GCU to take a 4-0 lead in the top of the first.  Brown drove home White and Dayna Hokanson with a single to center to take a 2-0 lead.  Kalena Shepherd cleared the bases with a two-run bomb over the center field fence to push the lead to 4-0.

After the hosts cut the lead to 4-2 heading into the third inning, White crushed the first pitch of the third over the left center field fence to extend SUU's lead to 5-2. 

With GCU answering in the bottom of the third to put the score at 5-3, the Thunderbirds left no doubt in the top of the fourth with another four-spot of scoring to end scoring at 9-3. Hokanson singled up the middle to plate Madison Sanders and Mikelle Magalogo.  White snared another RBI, sending Skyler Ball home with a groundout to short.  Brown remained hot with a single through the left side to score Hokanson. 

To start the day, White blasted a solo shot over the left field wall to put SUU up 1-0 in the bottom of the first against NMSU. That was White's first of two home runs on the day. 

The Aggies threatened to crack into the scoring column in the top of the third, loading the bases with three straight singles with one out.  Denhart, however, worked herself out of the jamb with a strikeout and a groundout to end the inning. 

The Thunderbirds tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the fifth to take a 3-0 lead.  Makall Whetten started the frame with a double down the left field line prior to Hokanson bringing her home with a double to left field as well. White then collected another RBI with a sacrifice fly to left to plate Hokanson. 

New Mexico State, however, put on its rally caps in the top of the seventh to end the upset bid for the T-Birds, 6-3. 

Denhart pitched four frames, collected two strikeouts, six flyouts and a pair of groundouts.  Owen took the loss after three innings of work that included five strikeouts and a pair of flyouts and groundouts.

Next up, the Thunderbirds look to close out the Grand Canyon Invitational perfect against the hosts with a Noon MST contest tomorrow. 

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