ST. GEORGE—After a brilliant start to the week at home, the Lady Bulldogs looked like they needed all the “warming up” a Warm-up Classic could provide.
After beginning the week on the road blasting South Sevier, 22-1, Gunnison Valley softball took their 2-0 record down to St. George for the March Warm-up Classic last weekend for five games and went 1-4 in those matches. The Lady Bulldogs claimed the win over Morgan, 9-1, on Friday but then fell to Idaho squad Hillcrest, 11-9, Maple Mountain, 13-12, West Jordan, 15-6, and Timpanogos, 12-8.
Gunnison’s formerly perfect record dropped to 3-4 overall.
The Lady Bulldogs’ performance against South Sevier was nothing short of a clinic as they accumulated 16 hits and 19 total RBI. Freshman Maile Ha’O hit a home run as part of a four RBI, and the Lady Bulldogs combined for five doubles. Junior Rilee Dyreng also had four RBI. Not a single Bulldog struck out.
Hillcrest turned out to be a much tougher opponent for Gunnison. The visiting Knights from Idaho Falls, Idaho, recorded only a single strikeout as they held their own against the Bulldogs up to the final inning. At the top of the final inning, Hillcrest turned their 9-7 deficit around with four runs and shut Gunnison out of the last frame to claim the comeback win.
Gunnison was out of the game with West Jordan before enough time had passed to scuff up the bases, as the Jaguars blew them out of the first inning, 11-0, and never looked back.
The Lady Bulldogs looked much better to start against Timpanogos, leading 4-0 after the first inning, but after the Timberwolves shot out to a 7-4 lead in the next frame, Gunnison couldn’t keep up. In spite of the loss, junior Lexee Keisel had herself a day at bat, hitting a home run and a double and notching three total RBI. It was a fine reprieve from her day at the pitching mound, where she allowed three hits and eight runs with no strikeouts.
Gunnison will head on the road all week long as they take on Piute on Tuesday, followed by Beaver on Wednesday and a doubleheader with Duchesne on Friday.