RIVERSIDE, CA - The UBC Thunderbirds (1-1) picked up their first victory as a varsity team on their first day of NAIA competition, defeating the Bethany Bruins 6-1 at the Lancer Invitational in Riverside, CA. UBC began the tournament with an 8-0 loss to Simpson University.
The T-Birds jumped out to an early lead in their second varsity game thanks to smart base running and a few Bruins errors.
Jessica Barclay led off for UBC and reached second base on an error by the Bethany shortstop. She advanced to third when
Jesslyn Hodge was hit by a pitch and then scored the T-Birds first ever varsity run on a double-steal with Hodge. UBC had a chance to add a few more in the inning but left two runners on base in the top of the first.
Barclay cashed in the winning run in the top of the second, singling home
Tayla Westgard.
That turned out to be all the offence first-year T-Bird pitcher
Kelsey Andison needed, as she went a full seven innings, striking out seven while giving up three hits and an unearned run.
UBC sealed the victory with a pair of two-run innings in the third and the fourth.
Barclay,
Alyssa Derksen, and
Brittany Meyer all finished the game with a pair of hits. Five different T-Birds drove in runs in the win, with the other coming on the double steal.
Bethany starter Jessica Cantu held the T-Birds scoreless over the final three innings but gave up eight hits, five walks, and four earned runs while striking out one.
Cantu did, however, knock in the only Bethany run, doubling home Devan Cox in the bottom of the sixth to ruin Andison's shutout bid.
In the T-Birds first game of the Lancer Invitational, they were upended 8-0 by the Simpson Redhawks.
UBC continues the tournament with a big test against defending NAIA Champion and no. 1 ranked Cal Baptist on Friday (12:30 p.m.). They close out the round robin portion of the tournament with a re-match against Simpson at 3:00 p.m.
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