The UBC Thunderbirds five game winning streak came to a halt Friday with a pair of one run losses to the University of Great Falls and the College of Idaho at the College of Idaho Northwest Nazarene Tournament in Caldwell, Idaho.
In the morning game, UBC lost 9-8 in extra innings to the University of Great Falls and in the afternoon affair they lost 4-3 to the College of Idaho. With the losses, UBC's record falls to 5-7 on the season.
The University of Great Falls scored two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to defeat the Thunderbirds 9-8 in extra innings. Tied at 7-7 going into the eighth, teams start the extra inning with a runner on second base. Yasmin Bains would drive in Leanne Jung to give the Thunderbirds a 8-7 lead. In the bottom of the eighth Keeley Van Blaricom started the inning off with a RBI double and later would score the winning run on Brittney Robbins' single to give the Argos a 9-8 win.
In the opening game of the day, neither starting pitcher got past the second inning. The 'Birds wasted little time going to work. After Carlyn Shimizu and Yasmin Bains walked to start the game, Cassandra Dypchey doubled to left centre to score them both and put UBC in front 2-0. Alana Westerhof then stepped up and hit a two-run homer to give the Thunderbirds a 4-0 lead.
However, after scoring one in the bottom of the first inning, the University of Great Falls would tie it up in the bottom of the second inning. Kelli O'Brien led off with a solo home run off Carrie McKewan. Then after Robbins doubled, Kayeley Lyons singled her home. Lyons would come around to score on a Regan Rucks double to tie the game at 4-4, spelling the end of McKewan's day. She was replaced by Leigh Della Siega.
UBC would retake the lead in the third inning after Shimizu walked with the bases loaded to give the Thunderbirds a 5-4 advantage.
The Argos would score single runs in the fifth and sixth innings to go up 6-5 heading into the seventh and final inning.
In the seventh, Sarah Hillsdon came to the plate with the bases loaded and hit into a fielder's choice scoring a run to tie the game at 6-6. Leanne Jung then stepped up and drove home Quinn Dhaliwal to make it 7-6 UBC moving into the bottom half of the inning, three outs away from a win.
Unfortunately, with two out and a runner on second Lyons would drive in the tieing run to send the game to extra innings.
Van Blaricom replaced Kirstie Thomas on the mound in the first inning after Thomas allowed four runs on two hits and didn't record an out. Van Blaricom went the rest of the way allowing one earned run on eight hits, while striking out three.
McKewan lasted an inning and a third for the Thunderbirds after giving up four runs on five hits. Della Siega came on in relief and pitched six and a third innings, scattering seven hits, while striking out eight. She was responsible for three earned runs and would take the loss.
In the afternoon game, a three run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning by the College of Idaho was the difference as the Coyotes beat the Thunderbirds 4-3.
Down 1-0 heading into the fifth inning the 'Birds scored three runs to take a 3-1 lead. Kelly Rumley, Carlyn Shimizu and Shayla Kaplen each drove in a run to put UBC in front by two runs.
The lead would remain until the bottom of the sixth when Paige Gabiola hit a three run homer off Alana Westerhof to put the home side in front 4-3.
That is all the run support Coyotes pitcher Cortni Pena would need as she blanked the seventh inning to pick up her first win of the season in College of Idaho's 4-3 victory.
Westerhof was strong in the circle for UBC allowing five hits in six innings of work while striking out five. The only blemish was the three run homer to Gabiola.
The three day tournament wraps up tomorrow with a pair of games for UBC. They will face Eastern Oregon University at 11:00 am and the College of Idaho at 1:30 pm.
