Victoria, Texas - After a disappointing opening day Wednesday at the Association of Independent Institutions (AII) conference tournament, the UBC women's softball team rallied Thursday morning defeating Ashford University (Iowa) 11-0 to stay alive in the double knockout event in Victoria, Texas. The 'Birds bats came alive scattering 12 hits, including two doubles and three triples, while
Leigh Della Siega was dominating on the mound allowing just four hits and striking out 12 in a complete game effort.
BOX SCORE
The 'Birds elected to be the visiting team in hopes of getting off to a quick start at the plate. The plan worked as
Cassandra Dypchey got things going with a RBI single to put UBC up 1-0.
Lindsay McElroy followed up with a RBI double and would score after
Molly Gosnell's hard grounder could not be handled by the shortstop and the Thunderbirds led 3-0 after a half inning of play.
A two out rally in the fifth inning resulted in three more runs for UBC. Westerhof and McElroy got things started hitting back to back triples. Then after Gosnell walked and stole second,
Yasmin Bains hit a clutch single to right field to score both McElroy and Gosnell to extend the lead to 6-0 through four and a half innings of play.
In the top of the seventh the Thunderbirds put the game away, adding five more runs. Gosnell scored on a fielder's choice, then with two on Dychey hit a bases loaded single to right to plate a pair of runs. Westerhof followed up with her second triple of the game, collecting two RBI in the process to make it an 11-0 game.
Della Siega was in full control from the opening pitch. In fact the first six outs she registered were strikeouts. She allowed just four hits, walked four, while striking out 12. It was her 11th complete game of the season.
Dypchey finished the day 3-for-5 with three RBI. Westerhof went 2-for-4 with two triples and two RBI. McElroy also was 2-for-4 at the plate with a double, a triple and two runs batted in.
With the win the Thunderbirds now take on Cal.State-San Marcos at 2:00 pm PST later today. The Cougars came into this tournament as the 4th ranked team in the entire NAIA with a record of 40-8, however they were upset in the opening round, 4-2 by LSU Alexandria. UBC played them back on March 16 losing 1-0.
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