GAME NOTES: The Snow College softball team will host its home opening series this weekend in Ephraim and take on Utah State University Eastern. The Badgers will take on the Eagles beginning Friday at 1:00 and 3:00 p.m. Saturday's doubleheader is slated for a 12:00 first pitch. All four games will take place at the Snow College Softball Complex.
 
The Badgers are coming off their final non-conference weekend of the season at the Choccolocoo Park Extravaganza where they went 2-2 over the two-day tournament. Snow College earned a 5-4 walk-off victory against Pensacola State College followed by a 9-7 win against Indian Hills Community College.
 
As a result of the weekend, two members of the team received Scenic West Athletic Conference Player of the Week awards. Brenley Boydston was named the SWAC Player of the Week While Avery Thorkelson was named SWAC Pitcher of the Week.
 
Boydston went 6-12 from the plate and drove in three RBIs for the Badgers. Boydston, a sophomore from Layton, Utah, is slashing .222/.263/.222 so far this season and has recorded four RBIs over the first 15 games.
 
Thorkelson appeared in all four games over the weekend and tallied 17.2 innings pitched. She allowed just eight earned runs while striking out a total of 14 batters. Through 12 appearances this season, Thorkelson, a freshman from St. George, Utah, has recorded an ERA of 2.89 and struck out 39 batters – both of which lead the team.
 
Two members of the team are currently hitting over .400, including Molly Roberts, who is slashing .409/.469/.409 and has appeared in 14 of 15 games so far this year. Hailey Mangum, has appeared in all 15 games, including 14 starts, and is hitting .408/.474/.510 and leads the team in total hits with 20.
 
LAST TIME OUT: The Snow College softball team earned two victories at the Choccolocco Park Extravaganza last weekend. The Badgers defeated Pensacola State College 5-4 before securing a 9-7 victory against Indian Hills Community College to wrap up their non-conference schedule.
 
Snow College entered the tournament expecting to play a total of six games, but due to inclement weather, two games were canceled. The Badgers were coming off just one win at the Western Shootout earlier this month.
 
Game one of the tournament saw the Badgers take a 2-1 lead after the first inning. Molly Roberts started the game with a single and later scored on a double from Brooke Fisher. Two batters later, Ayden Fitch singled to center to score Fisher to give the Badgers the lead.
 
Avery Thorkelson started inside the circle for the Badgers. After allowing a lone run in the top of the first inning, Thorkelson settled in throughout the remainder of the game. She scattered just four hits and struck out six batters through seven complete innings of work while allowing just one earned run.
 
Offensively, the Badgers were held quiet over the remaining innings, and the score remained 2-1, entering the top of the seventh. The Mustangs were able to push across three runs in the inning to take a 4-2 lead. Snow College couldn't respond and suffered the loss.
 
The Badgers had a quick turnaround and took on Pensacola State. Following a quick top of the first, Snow College scored three runs in the bottom of the inning.  Hailey Mangum got the rally started with an infield single.
 
Kamryn Allen plated Mangum with a double to center before Fitch reached on an error to put runners at first and second. Back-to-back singles from Moki Maughan and Brenley Boydston scored both runners and the Badgers took an early lead, 3-0.
 
The Pirates cut into the deficit with a pair of runs in the third inning before tying the game at three in the fifth. Boydston put the Badgers back in front with a single in the bottom of the sixth inning which scored Madison Salisbury.
 
PSC recorded three straight singles in the top of the seventh to tie the game at 4. The Badgers' defense stymied any further threat as Gracie Brooks threw out a runner from left field who was trying to advance to third from first.
 
Snow College would end things in the bottom of the seventh in walk-off fashion. Mangum singled to center on a sharp line drive. Two batters later and with two outs in the inning, Allen doubled to left field and Mangum came around to score and the Badgers won 5-4.
 
The Badgers kicked off day two of the tournament against Mclennan Community College. Things started out promising for the Badgers as they put up two runs in the top of the first inning. Roberts reached on an error before Mangum doubled her in to score the first run of the game.
 
Later in the inning, Mangum advanced to third, and Fitch walked. Boydston executed a sacrifice bunt, which scored Mangum to give Snow College a 2-0 lead. the Highlanders responded with a run of their own in the top of the second inning.
 
McLennan flipped the script in the fourth inning as a triple plated two runs to give the Highlanders a 3-2 lead. The Badgers responded with a pair of runs in the fifth to take the lead right back.
 
The inning started with a single from Maughan before Nev Carrasquel reached on an error. Mangum proceeded to plate both runners on a ringing double into the left-field corner and Badgers took a 4-3 lead into the sixth.
 
After both teams were retired in order in the sixth inning, the Highlanders scored three runs with two outs in the top of the seventh inning. Snow College brought the winning run to the plate in the bottom of the inning but was not able to muster a comeback and suffered the 6-4 loss.
 
Snow College wrapped up the tournament and its non-conference schedule against IHCC. The Badgers got the scoring started in the bottom of the second inning. Boydston and Reata O'Neal both singled. Maughan plated Boydston on a single to put the Badgers on the board.
 
Consecutive singles from Gigi Hall, Roberts, and Mangum each scored a run, and Snow College led 4-0 when the dust settled. IHCC cut the deficit in half in the top of the third with a pair of runs. The Warriors further trimmed the lead with another tally in the fourth.
 
IHCC took the lead with three runs in the top of the fifth inning. Snow College responded as a two-out double from Salisbury scored O'Neal making the score 6-5 in favor of the Warriors. IHCC got the run right back in the sixth to regain a two-run lead.
 
The Badgers went on a two-out rally to turn the tables in the bottom of the sixth. It all started with a leadoff single from Roberts. Roberts eventually advanced to third as the first two outs of the inning were recorded.
 
Snow College then recorded four straight singles to take the lead. Fitch, Boydston, O'Neal, and Maughan all singled. Fitch's safety plated Roberts, while O'Neal's single scored both Boydston and Fitch. Back-to-back walks scored the final tally of the game, and the Badgers led 9-7 heading into the last frame.
 
A leadoff double in the Warriors' seventh brought the tying run to the plate. Thorkelson entered the game inside the circle and slammed the door on the comeback attempt. She struck out two batters en route to recording her first save of the season.
 
Maughan went 5-10 and drove in a pair of RBIs, while Boydston went 6-12 with three runs batted in. Roberts went 7-16 and scored four runs. Thorkelson pitched 16.2 innings and allowed just eight earned runs while striking out 12 batters.
 
Snow College will now play its home opener and welcome Utah State University Eastern to town. Friday's doubleheader will begin at 1:00 p.m. with Saturday's twin bill to take place at 12:00 p.m. at the Snow College Softball Complex. For video streaming and live stat information, visit snowbadgers.com.
 
UP NEXT: Snow College will head back onto the road for one four-game series against North Idaho College March 7-8 in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. The Cardinals, who have returned to the Scenic West Athletic Conference this season, have been part of the Northwest Athletic Conference since 2015. The Badgers have not faced NIC since April 2014. Snow College owns a 20-21 overall record against the Cardinals but has lost eight of the last 10 meetings. The first game of the doubleheader will take place March 7 at 1:00 p.m. with Saturday's twin bill scheduled to start at 12:00 p.m. MST. For video streaming and live stat information, visit snowbadgers.com.