Friday, April 17
Cedar City, UT
3 p.m. (CT)
Abilene Christian
6-34
3
at
11
Southern Utah
17-23
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abilene Christian | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 0 |
| Southern Utah | 2 | 5 | 0 | 4 | X | 11 | 6 | 0 |
Photo by: Abbye Funderburk
Schaefer Knocks In 4 on 3 Extra-Base Hits at Southern Utah
4/17/2026 10:58:00 PM | Softball
CEDAR CITY, Utah — The Abilene Christian softball team bounced back to take a late lead in game two of its doubleheader at Southern Utah, but lost in 8 innings, 7-6 after losing the opener 11-3 on a cold Friday afternoon.
Senior Elizabeth Schaefer had a phenomenal day at the plate, going 4/6 with two doubles and a solo home run, scored three times and drove in four runs over the twinbill. Like Schaefer, catcher Valerie Ornelas went 3/3 in the second game.
Game 1: Southern Utah 11, ACU 3 (5 Innings)
The doubleheader was delayed an hour to allow snow to melt at Southern Utah's new Kathryn Berg Field.
The Wildcats produced seven hits with left fielder Ciana Arguijo going 2/2. Schaefer's hit which bounced on top of the fence and over in right centerfield pulled ACU to a 2-1 deficit, but the Thunderbirds responded with an RBI single and a grand slam in the bottom of the 2nd inning.
Audrey Lacina doubled in the 3rd inning, driving in Kyana Lipardo and narrowing the deficit to 7–2. SUU hit its second grand slam of the game in the 4th off Makayla Valle, who gave way to Lindsey Oliver. In the fifth inning, Ari Maxwell singled to drive in Lipardo, adding one more run for the Wildcats.
Starter Alissa Snipes pitched 1 2/3 innings, giving up two hits and six earned runs, including one home run, and issuing three walks. Lindsey Oliver entered in relief, delivering 2/3 inning without allowing a hit or run.
Game 2: Southern Utah 7, ACU 6 (8 innings)
In game two, the Wildcats started strong with Emalee Romero doubling to left field and later scoring on Elizabeth Schaefer's double to right center. Emerson Meggers tripled to right center, bringing Schaefer home. The Wildcats led 2–0 at the end of the first inning. In the second inning, Valerie Ornelas doubled and scored on a fielding error during Kyana Lipardo's sacrifice bunt, extending the lead. This was part of a standout performance for Ornelas, who recorded a season-high total of 3 hits.
Southern Utah took the lead in the 3rd inning, and then went up 5-3 in the 5th off a wild pitch. But ACU made its rally in the 7th. Three straight hits to start the inning tied the score at 5-all -- an Ari Maxwell single through the leftside, a double by Lacina to right center, and a double by Schaefer to bring both baserunners home. It was the Wildcats' sixth double of the game.
Emerson Meggers then reached on a fielding error by Southern Utah's second baseman, allowing Schaefer to score the go-ahead run. ACU had runners on the corners for pinch hitter Jadyn Dawson who struck out swinging to end the frame.
The T-Birds tied the score at 6-all in the bottom of the seventh on a single to left. With no outs and runners at first and third, ACU shut down Southern Utah. The runner at third was caught in a rundown between Romero and Ornelas and tagged out. On the next at-bat, the runner at second was tagged trying to reach third on a hit to the shortstop. The inning ended with a flyout to Maxwell in center.
But after going 3-up, 3-down in the top of the 8th, Southern Utah secured the walk-off victory on a 1-out single to left center by McKenzy Becerra, bringing home the winning run from third.
Ella Beeman started for Abilene Christian, pitching 3 innings and allowing 7 hits and 4 runs, though only 1 run was earned. Leah Meyer entered in relief in the fourth inning, pitching 4 1/3 innings and conceding 5 hits and 3 runs, with 2 earned runs. She was credited with the loss, bringing her season record to 3–11.
UP NEXT
The three-game series concludes in Cedar City, Utah, on Saturday at 1 p.m. CT.
An ACU win would greatly help its chances of making the WAC Softball Tournament in May in Stephenville.
Senior Elizabeth Schaefer had a phenomenal day at the plate, going 4/6 with two doubles and a solo home run, scored three times and drove in four runs over the twinbill. Like Schaefer, catcher Valerie Ornelas went 3/3 in the second game.
Game 1: Southern Utah 11, ACU 3 (5 Innings)
The doubleheader was delayed an hour to allow snow to melt at Southern Utah's new Kathryn Berg Field.
The Wildcats produced seven hits with left fielder Ciana Arguijo going 2/2. Schaefer's hit which bounced on top of the fence and over in right centerfield pulled ACU to a 2-1 deficit, but the Thunderbirds responded with an RBI single and a grand slam in the bottom of the 2nd inning.
Audrey Lacina doubled in the 3rd inning, driving in Kyana Lipardo and narrowing the deficit to 7–2. SUU hit its second grand slam of the game in the 4th off Makayla Valle, who gave way to Lindsey Oliver. In the fifth inning, Ari Maxwell singled to drive in Lipardo, adding one more run for the Wildcats.
Starter Alissa Snipes pitched 1 2/3 innings, giving up two hits and six earned runs, including one home run, and issuing three walks. Lindsey Oliver entered in relief, delivering 2/3 inning without allowing a hit or run.
Game 2: Southern Utah 7, ACU 6 (8 innings)
In game two, the Wildcats started strong with Emalee Romero doubling to left field and later scoring on Elizabeth Schaefer's double to right center. Emerson Meggers tripled to right center, bringing Schaefer home. The Wildcats led 2–0 at the end of the first inning. In the second inning, Valerie Ornelas doubled and scored on a fielding error during Kyana Lipardo's sacrifice bunt, extending the lead. This was part of a standout performance for Ornelas, who recorded a season-high total of 3 hits.
Southern Utah took the lead in the 3rd inning, and then went up 5-3 in the 5th off a wild pitch. But ACU made its rally in the 7th. Three straight hits to start the inning tied the score at 5-all -- an Ari Maxwell single through the leftside, a double by Lacina to right center, and a double by Schaefer to bring both baserunners home. It was the Wildcats' sixth double of the game.
Emerson Meggers then reached on a fielding error by Southern Utah's second baseman, allowing Schaefer to score the go-ahead run. ACU had runners on the corners for pinch hitter Jadyn Dawson who struck out swinging to end the frame.
The T-Birds tied the score at 6-all in the bottom of the seventh on a single to left. With no outs and runners at first and third, ACU shut down Southern Utah. The runner at third was caught in a rundown between Romero and Ornelas and tagged out. On the next at-bat, the runner at second was tagged trying to reach third on a hit to the shortstop. The inning ended with a flyout to Maxwell in center.
But after going 3-up, 3-down in the top of the 8th, Southern Utah secured the walk-off victory on a 1-out single to left center by McKenzy Becerra, bringing home the winning run from third.
Ella Beeman started for Abilene Christian, pitching 3 innings and allowing 7 hits and 4 runs, though only 1 run was earned. Leah Meyer entered in relief in the fourth inning, pitching 4 1/3 innings and conceding 5 hits and 3 runs, with 2 earned runs. She was credited with the loss, bringing her season record to 3–11.
UP NEXT
The three-game series concludes in Cedar City, Utah, on Saturday at 1 p.m. CT.
An ACU win would greatly help its chances of making the WAC Softball Tournament in May in Stephenville.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Baker, Delaney (5-6)
L: Snipes, Alissa (1-7)
Batting:
2B: Lacina, Audrey 1
HR: Schaefer, Elizabeth 1
RBI: Schaefer, Elizabeth 1 ; Maxwell, Ari 1 ; Lacina, Audrey 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Schaefer, Elizabeth 1 ; Lipardo, Kyana 2
SB: Lipardo, Kyana 1
Batting:
HR: Lira, Savannah 1 ; Becerra, McKenzy 2
RBI: Salvatierra, Michaella 1 ; Lira, Savannah 4 ; Becerra, McKenzy 6
Base Running:
RUNS: Munoz, Kassidy 1 ; Ollison, Taralyn 2 ; Knight, Isabella 1 ; Burgos, Aubrie 1 ; Salvatierra, Michaella 1 ; Tamkoc, Mia 1 ; Lira, Savannah 1 ; Becerra, McKenzy 2 ; Acree, Kayleigh 1
HBP: Knight, Isabella 1
Game Leaders
AB
2
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
AB
2
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
UTL
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RHP
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballUTL
/ Softball
UTL
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
INF
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RHP
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
RHP
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