RIVERSIDE, CA - It was another pair of tough games for the UBC Thunderbirds on Saturday as they battled two NAIA opponents ranked in the top 15.
In the first game of the day, they met no. 13 Dickinson State for the second time in three days. UBC got off to a good start in the third inning with trio of runs. Jess Barclay's RBI single opened the scoring before doubles from
Tanya McLean and
Courtney O'Connor also cashed in a run a piece.
Dickinson State wasted little time in responding, scoring a pair of runs in the fourth in part to a couple UBC errors in the field.
UBC held the lead until the sixth with two outs before back-to-back singles, an error, a walk, and a hit led to five runs by Dickinson as they completed the comeback against UBC hurler
Kelsey Andison who went the distance.
In their afternoon tilt, the T-Birds gave no. 1 Cal Baptist all they could handle in an exciting, extra innings 4-3 loss.
Cal Baptist jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth. UBC responded with a rally in the fifth with two outs. Barclay smacked a double down the first base line. After McLean earned a free pass, Barclay was able to score on a throwing error before an O'Connor double drove in McLean to give UBC a 2-1 lead.
In the bottom of the sixth, Cal Baptist's Caty Reeves drew the two teams level with a solo home run.
It was UBC's turn to use one swing of the bat to retake the lead with McLean hitting a two-out home run to dead centre off Cal Baptist's All-American pitcher Emma Holden. But Cal Baptist showed why they are the top ranked team in the NAIA, with Tina Galinato hitting a home run of her own to lead off the bottom of the seventh inning to knot the game at 3-3.
UBC came back in the eighth and with no outs, moved O'Connor to third on a sacrifice bunt.
Lindsay McElroy hit a fly ball to left field but on the ensuing tagup, O'Connor was thrown out at the plate on a perfect throw from Galinato.
Cal Baptist took advantage in the bottom of the inning, and a UBC throwing error on a bunt allowed the hosts to score the winning run.
UBC's
Leigh Della Siega, a freshman, struck out eight batters and allowed just seven hits and four walks in a complete game effort.
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