VANCOUVER - The UBC Thunderbirds women's softball team fell twice today at the Northwest Cup in Clackamas, Oregon.

"We struggled in the cold wind today," said UBC head coach Phil Thom.

Still, the Thunderbirds kept up with the best team in the NAIA, falling by a run to the defending national champion, Oregon Tech Hustlin' Owls, 4-3.

It was the second time in eight days that UBC lost by a run to OIT.  The Thunderbirds lost another close game, 2-1 on Feb. 10 at the Simpson University Invitational in Redding, California.

Rookie Yasmin Bains homered to left field in the top of the seventh inning to close UBC to within a run but the Thunderbirds couldn't tie the game.

Pitcher Leigh Della Siega was credited with the loss. Jamie Randall relieved Della Siega in the third inning and pitched an impressive four innings, while giving up just a run.

The second game of the day saw UBC drop a 5-1 decision to Corban College (OR).

Jess Hodge scored the only run for the Thunderbirds in the top of the fourth inning by hitting a home run over the centre field fence.

Pitcher Alana Westerhof gave up five runs and struck out nine batters over six innings but was given the loss.

UBC will finish off the Northwest Cup with two games on Sunday. The Thunderbirds will face Northwest Christian (OR) at 9 a.m. and then Corban again at 11:00 a.m.

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