SUU campus briefs

BASEBALL: Southern Utah finished its spring break trip how it started by posting a 9-5 victory over the Chicago State Cougars on Saturday afternoon in Palm Beach. The win moves the T-Birds to 4-12 on the year while CSU drops to 1-7.

SUU began the game behind, surrendering the first runof the contest in the bottom of the second inning, but answered immediately with an RBI single by Marcus Romero in the top of the third. However, the Cougars worked their way back into the lead, scoring a run in the bottom of the fourth and fifth inning.

Southern Utah began the sixth inning trailing 3-1,but a three-run home run off the bat of Bucky Aona swung the lead and the momentum over to the Thunderbirds' dugout. Joe Goldenberg punctuated the T-Bird runs in the frame with the second home run of the inning, putting a ball over the left field fence and driving in two runs. The bombs gave Southern Utah a 6-3 lead and the team would neverlook back, despite some close calls down the stretch.

Two runs by Chicago State in the bottom of the eighth inning put the score at 6-5, but Southern Utah answered with three runs in the top of the ninth inning, making the most of four hits, including a pair of doubles from Bo Cuthbertson and Goldenberg. Matt Sanford, D.J. Andrade and Cuthbertson ultimately recorded the three RBI in the frame.

SUU reliever Levi Swenson began the ninth inning in ajam, walking the first three batters before taking over duties at third base and being replaced on the mound by Cody Eliason. The freshman from Allen, Texas struck out the first batter that he faced and then induced a 5-2-3 double play to finish the inning.

Cuthbertson, Sanford, Goldenberg and Andrade each recorded a multiple hit game for Southern Utah as each recorded atl east one RBI as well. SUU starter Justin Neubauer fanned five CSUbatters in 6.2 innings, allowing three runs (one earned) on seven hits and two walks in his first victory of the season.

Southern Utah will remain on the road next week as the Thunderbirds spend time in the state of Oregon, facing Oregon, Oregon State and Portland. The Thunderbirds will open the five-game set at Oregon on Tuesday night at 6 p.m. (MT).

MEN'S GOLF: The Thunderbirds played its best round of the tournament Saturday but still finished 17th at the University of Denver's Desert Shootout, played at the par 71, 7,015-yard Palm Valley Golf Course in Goodyear, Ariz. SUU shot 298 Saturday after rounds of 306 on Thursday and Friday to finish at 46-over par 910.

Jeff Evans shot a final-round 71 to finish at 4-over par 217 and in 28th place to lead the Thunderbirds. Brad Millard shot 76 Saturday to finish at 225 and in67th place, while Jordan Orth also shot 76 and was in 88th at 234.Doug Fowles shot his best round of the tournament as well with a 75 to finish even with Orth at 234, while Justin Bateman shot 84 on Saturday for a three-day total 251 and 99th place.

Wichita State held off Kansas in a playoff to win the team title at 9-under 855, but WSU's Dustin Garza claimed the individual championship at 14-under par 202.