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Show ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~-! SFOKJS !~~~~~~~~T_H_E_T_H_U_N_D_E_R_B_IR_D_D~H_U_R_S_D_AY~M_A_R_C_H_S_ r ._19_9_2_D_P_A_G_E_7 BIRDWATCH BASEBALL: The SUU baseball team will be looking to break a nine-game slide this weekend, but the task won't be easy as the T-Birds face fifth-ranked Cal State Fullerton Friday through Sunday in California. The T-Birds will take a 1-12 record into the threegame series. Fullerton, as of Tuesday night has a 10-4 record. They played Chapman yesterday. SU is struggling in pitching and hitting with a team earned run average of 11.68 and batting average of .176. At the plate, Joe Blackham leads the ' Birds with a .341 average while Darren Marchant leads the 'Bird staff with a 6.55 ERA. SUU will be at home March 14 for games with Metro State. GYMNASTICS: The SUU gymnastic team hosted its last home meet of the season Monday night in the Centrum against Utah State University. SUU scored 187 .5 which wasn't quite enough to beat USU's 191.7. Although the ' Birds were phenomenal on bars, floor and vault, there were flaws on the beam. On bars the old event record of 45.25 was replaced with a new 48.00 with floor following the same recordbreaking standard going from 47 .95 to 48.3. In all-around Julie Aguirre led SUU with 37 .95. In individual events McKay led on vault scoring 9 .35, Aguirre and Lisa Gomez had the high score on bars for the ' Birds with 9.65. On beam Susie Specht led SUU with a 9 .5 and Aguirre was second at 9.45. M cKay and Kirn Francis had equal floor scores of 9. 7. SOnBALL: The SUU softball team will host Utah State Saturday at the Thunderbird Softball Complex. The doubleheader is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. In case of inclement weather the games will be played in Mesquite, Nev. The Lady ' Birds are coming off a five-game loss in the UNL V Spring Fling Classic in Las Vegas, Nev. SUU met the Lady Aggies in the tourney and lost 2-1 in eight innings. After the poubleheader, the team will travel to California for games with Cal State Bakersfield and University of San Diego. 'Birds pound Vandals, await possible NIT bid BY JAY HINTON Thunderbird Sports Editor Eight SUU senior basketball players played their fmal regular season game Tuesday and they finished in stellar fashion with a 88-70 beating of the University of Idaho in the Centrum. In the previous meeting this season between the two schools, Idaho handed SUU its worst defeat of the season, 91-70, but the 'Birds returned the favor for their 20th win of the season against eight losses. The 20-win season is the best for SUU since entering Division I play five seasons Dana Achtzehn .. ago. The ' Birds are hopeful that the impressive record with earn them a berth in the 32-team National Invitational Tournament which will be announced March 15. Dana Achtzehn and Davor Marcelic teamed up for 50 of SUU's 88 points with Achtzehn netting 28 and Marcelic 22. In each game this season either Achtzehn or Marcelic has led the team in scoring. The ' Birds took their biggest lead of the half at nine points at 23- 14 on Sean Peterson 's jumper from 12 feet with 12:06 remaining in the half. Idaho cut SUU's lead to two at 34-32 , but the 'Birds regained control and took a 42-36 lead at the half. U of I threatened at 54-51, but Marcelic nailed a threepointer which began a scoring spree for the ' Birds. SUU went up 10 points at 70-60 with 5:30 to play and 15 points at 82-67 with under two minutes to go. Kyle Christensen scored at the buzzer for the 88-70 win. All eight seniors saw action. Behind Achtzehn and Marcelic, Kerry Sherwood had 10 points , Sean Peterson nine, Rex Brimhall five and Rick Roberts had three points. Ken Jackson and Rod Dixon played but did not score. Ladies fall to UNLV The SUU women 's basketball team let a 19-11 first half lead slip through its fmgers and dropped the final home game of the season to UNLV 77-61 last night. The Lady ' Birds will have a chance to improve on their 6-20 mark in final game of the season Friday night when they shoot hoops with Idaho State in Pocatello, Idaho. SUU's Libby Price bit a turnaround jumper with 10:43 to get the ' Birds their first lead of the ' game. Candice Lords followed with two jumpers and Angie Alvey nailed a three fora 19-11 advantage. UNL V retook the lead with 2:09 and led 29-27 at the half. Amy Gubler hit a jumper to knot the score at 29-29, but for the next seven minutes SUU couldn't buy a bucket and the Rebels pulled away for the 77-61 win. Alvey led SUU with 16 points and Lords netted 14. ········· |