SEATTLE - The UBC Thunderbirds picked up one win in three games versus Seattle University this weekend. Saturday's doubleheader was reduced to just a single contest with Sunday's doubleheader pushed back due to rain and then contested in less than ideal conditions.
On Saturday, UBC dropped a 5-4 decision to the Redhawks in nine innings. Seattle U took a 3-1 lead early on but the T-Birds fought back with a single run in the fourth and fifth innings to level the score. The host Redhawks jumped ahead again with a single run but UBC managed one more comeback, tying it at 4-4 in the seventh. Seattle finally took the game in the second extra inning.
Leigh Della Siega went the distance for UBC allowing three earned runs on seven hits, striking out five and walking six.
Tanya McLean, Britt Meyer and Jess Hodge each had a pair of hits in the loss.
"I was happy with our overall effort but we have to learn to win the close games. We had lost five of our previous 10 games, including Saturday's, by a combined five runs. We have to come up with a big defensive play to stop the other team or get the extra hit to score a winning run," said UBC head coach Phil Thom on Saturday.
On Sunday, Thom got his wish in the first game of the day as UBC came out on top 5-4 in nine innings - a reversal of the first game of the weekend.
Seattle scored four runs in the first inning off starter
Nicole Day who struggled in the wet, cold weather. She was relieved by
Kelsey Andison who threw the final eight and one third innings in shutout fashion. The T-Birds took advantage of Andison's performance, coming back all the way and tying the game 4-4 in the fifth. With two out in the top of the ninth, Jess Barclay singled home
Lindsay McElroy for the winning run.
McElroy paced UBC in the win with three hits, all doubles, while
Alyssa Derksen was impressive 5-for-5 at the dish. Andison allowed only five hits and four walks while striking out four on the mound.
"We stepped it up today and didn't let another game get away from us. I'm proud of the way the team battled back after being down 4-1, never giving up to get a hard fought win in such tough conditions," added Thom.
In the weekend's final game, the rain started early and was persistent. Della Siega, who pitched nine innings in the Saturday game, was back on the mound. She struggled with her command and a 30 minute rain delay as Seattle U scored five times in the first to seize control of the game.
There would be no comeback this time for the T-Birds, as the Redhawks went on to an 8-1 win.
-30-
