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Spanish Fork • San Juan eliminated the need for suspense early Friday night.
The same player who sent San Juan home as a winner a night earlier ended Friday's Class 2A state softball tournament game.
San Juan's Tatiana Su'e Su'e hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the sixth to beat Enterprise 11-1 to advance to the Class 2A championship game Saturday.
"I liked today's better, just to get things over with," said Su'e Su'e, who also pitched to her 18th win of the season. "I was stressed [Thursday night]."
With all the other games at the four-field complex completed Thursday night, a crowd gathered behind the backstop to watch as San Juan trailed by a run entering the seventh. The sun was setting and shadows were swallowing the field as the Millard Eagles looked to complete their upset bid.
That's when Su'e Su'e stepped to the plate and blasted a shot to left field that caused the outfielder giving chase to fall backward over the fence, and the Broncos went on to win in an extra inning.
The Broncos didn't need that kind of rally Friday. They jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first inning, thanks to an RBI single from Su'e Su'e and a three-run homer from shortstop Brooke Lyman.
"It would mean the world," the senior Lyman said with her team just one win away from a state title. "I have a first, second and third place under my belt. There's nothing more I want right now than to just take state."
San Juan entered the season looking to break the state record of 34 team home runs in a season. After Friday's blasts — the Broncos' sixth and seventh of the tournament — San Juan's total was sitting at 44.
"We just made it muscle memory," Su'e Su'e said.
Enterprise ace Dakota Robinson struggled with the Bronco batters all evening, giving up 12 hits. The Wolves got their lone run of the game in the top of the fifth inning when center fielder Taylor Phelps slapped an RBI single over Lyman's head.
Enterprise still has a chance to work its way back to the title game through the losers bracket.
But the Broncos will be waiting.
"I don't care who we play," San Juan coach Craig Swenson said, "as long as my girls get ready to play."
Class 2A title game
Championship game
12:15 p.m. • San Juan vs. Winner of 10 a.m. game*
Losers bracket
10 a.m. • Enterprise vs. South Summit or Manti
* — a second title game will be played 15 minutes after the conclusion of the first game if San Juan loses the game