SAN MARCOS, CA - The UBC Thunderbirds began the Cougar Clash, hosted by Cal State San Marcos, with a pair of losses on Thursday. They were defeated 11-3 by Dickinson State and 10-8 by Biola.
Nicole Day got the start on the mound and did a good job keeping the game close with five innings of work against Dickinson. She left the game down 4-3 with 3 unearned runs.
Leigh Della Siega came into game in the bottom of the sixth to pitch. The rookie got the first out but loaded the bases with a hit and two walks. She struck out the next batter for the second out before the Dickinson bats came alive to score 7 runs on two hits, another walk, and a number of UBC errors.
The highlight for UBC was a crushing home run over the centre field fence from
Courtney O'Connor. Jess Hodge went 2-for-3 at the plate for the 'Birds.
"Overall we looked very sloppy in a disappointing loss to no. 13 ranked Dickinson State," said UBC head coach Phil Thom.
Kelsey Andison got the start versus Biola, who scored four runs from the first four batters on a error and a 3-run homer by Lyndsie Roberts. Andison was able to keep Biola off the scoresheet until the fourth when they added one more.
In the bottom of the third the T-Birds bats came alive and they were able to string back-to-back hits and combined with a Biola error, scored two runs. With the base loaded,
Chelsey Rodgers hit a line shot to right-centre fence driving in thre to give UBC a 6-4 lead through four innings.
In the fifth, Biola tied the game on a home run by Cece Luster. UBC went to the bullpen and brought in
Leigh Della Siega who got the first and second out before back-to-back walks and a pair of hits turned into four runs for Biola who took a 10-6 lead. UBC managed a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth on a double by Hodge. That hit drove in to O'Connor and good base running by Hodge allowed her to score on two throwing errors by Biola on the same play. That was all the scoring UBC could muster in their comeback attempt, as they dropped the game 10-8.
"Overall we have hit the ball pretty well but the errors are taking us out of the game. We'll need to be sharper tomorrow if we want to pick up some wins against some very good competition," added Thom.
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