DELTA, B.C. – A second straight complete-game victory by
Leigh Della Siega (White Rock, BC) was the highlight for the UBC Thunderbirds softball team on Tuesday as it split another doubleheader against the visiting College of Idaho Coyotes.
GAME 1 BOX SCORE /
GAME 2 BOX SCORE
SOFT: T-Birds vs. CI (Mar. 26, 2012) Gallery
Just like on Monday, the College of Idaho won the first game on Tuesday, by a score of 8-3, before Della Siega's pitching allowed UBC to rebound with a win (5-1).
Della Siega was masterful in game two, striking out nine Coyotes over seven innings while giving up just four hits.
“I knew that this team would be tough and they're aggressive hitters so I knew I would be able to push the zone,” said Della Siega. “I threw a lot of rise balls and pushed the outside corner.”
Della Siega was locked in a pitchers' duel with College of Idaho's Cortni Pena, who ended up throwing 18 innings over three games.
There was no scoring until the bottom of the fourth inning, when UBC manufactured a run.
Lindsay McElroy (Delta, BC) walked to lead things off. She was advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. McElroy came around to score on an RBI-single to centre field by
Tayla Westgard (Surrey, BC).
UBC made it 2-0 an inning later.
Yasmin Bains (Richmond, BC) grounded in her at-bat out but was able to score
Carlyn Shimizu (Richmond, BC) from third. Shimizu had led off with a double.
With the bases loaded in the sixth,
Quinn Dhaliwal (Delta, BC) was credited with an RBI after getting hit by a pitch for third time on the day,
Cassandra Dypchey (Surrey, BC) then followed up with a two-run double to centre field to make it 5-0 for UBC.
The College of Idaho responded in the top of the seventh. With two outs and two runners in scoring position, Julia Henrie singled to give the Coyotes their first run.
The hit loaded the bases and meant the next batter, Alexis Macias, would represent the game-tying run. But Della Siega dug deep and got Macias to foul out to left field to end the game.
Della Siega (6-7), who threw her third straight complete game, was quick to give her teammates credit for the win.
“They're awesome, so supportive,” she said. “When I'm pitching, I feel like they've got my back completely. We had awesome run support today.”
Offensively, Dypchey led the way for UBC, going 3-for-3 at the plate with two runs batted in. Westgard was also perfect on the day, getting two hits in two plate appearances to go along with an RBI, a walk and a run scored.
UBC was forced to field a makeshift lineup in the first game of the day due to school commitments.
Della Siega, playing in the outfield, and starting pitcher
Nicole Day (Surrey, BC) both batted for the first time in their NAIA careers in game one.
The Thunderbirds were able to keep pace with the Coyotes early, trailing just 2-1 after five. But the College of Idaho pulled away, scoring six runs in the final three innings, to capture the victory.
UBC's first run came courtesy of Bains, who singled to right field in the first to plate Dhaliwal.
In the sixth, the T-Birds were down 5-1 but regained some momentum with a two-run inning. McElroy knocked a single to left field to score Dypchey and Dhaliwal but the Coyotes immediately added three runs in the top of seventh.
The split leaves UBC's record at 19-16 while the College of Idaho has 19 wins and 17 losses.
The Thunderbirds will continue their weeklong series of doubleheaders with two games against No. 24 Concordia (Ore.) at North Delta Park.
“It means so much,” said Della Siega when asked about this week's home games. “It's so nice to be out in front of all the parents. Everyone is so supportive. The weather's been awesome. It's been great playing out here.”
The first game on Wednesday will begin at 2 p.m. UBC is 1-2 against the Cavaliers so far this season.
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