VANCOUVER – Alana Westerhof was the undisputed star for the UBC Thunderbirds as they swept the St. Martin's Saints, the defending NCAA Div. II Great Northwest Athletic Conference champions, in a softball doubleheader Tuesday in Lacey, Wash.

The Delta native earned both victories as a pitcher on Tuesday after driving in the winning runs herself at the plate as UBC clinched 2-1 and 6-4 triumphs.

"We played with determination and confidence today – both offensively and defensively," said UBC head coach Gord Collings. "The players are starting to believe in themselves and each one is contributing."

"Alana was the difference today. She stepped up and made the key pitches when needed and also contributed at the plate. She also made a number of excellent defensive plays at critical times in both games. Yasmin Bains was terrific in our first game and our younger players also made great contributions today. They are starting to feel more comfortable playing at this level. In particular, Shayla Kaplen and Brittany Hince-Siwicki hit the ball well."

In the fifth inning of the first matchup against St. Martin's, Westerhof hit a single to centre field to score Shayla Kaplen and Carlyn Shimizu. Those two runs were all she needed as Westerhof threw a complete game four-hitter, surrendering just an unearned run in the sixth, for the victory as the starting pitcher. The senior gave up just four hits over seven innings and struck out four.

Shortstop Yasmin Bains was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate in game one.

Westerhof had enough left in the tank to throw five innings of relief and record the victory after knocking in the winning runs in game two, which ended 6-4 in favour of the T-Birds after eight innings.

The score was tied 3-3 going into the eighth, with Westerhof having pitched four innings of shutout ball in relief of starter Carrie McKewan.

Third baseman Cassandra Dypchey put UBC ahead 4-3 with an RBI-single through the left side to plate Lindsey Ogilvie. The next batter, Westerhof, stepped up to hit a single to centre to bring home Kaplen and Shimizu and give the Thunderbirds a 6-3 advantage.

Westerhof then took the circle in the bottom half of the eighth to close out the game. After giving up a leadoff double and eventually another unearned run, Westerhof induced two more outs from the Saints and clinched her second win of the day to improve to 5-5 on the year. St. Martin's could only get three hits off Westerhof in the final five innings of the game.

The home side got off to a quick start, scoring a run in the bottom of the first inning and adding two more in the third. UBC replied with two runs in the second and another in the third.

Quinn Dhaliwal got the 'Birds on the scoreboard with an RBI-single in the top of the second that plated Bains. McKewan then delivered a sacrifice fly to right field to score Brittany Hince Siwicki. Kelly Rumley tried to cross home plate on the same play but was tagged out in a rundown.

UBC added to its lead in the third inning as Bains singled to centre field to score Kaplen, who had led off with a double.

Kaplen and Hince-Siwicki each had three hits in the second game on Tuesday while Bains and Dypchey had two.

The two victories move the Thunderbirds back to .500 on the season with a record of 8-8.

The team will travel to Arizona on Friday for the 2014 Tucson Invitational Games, which will run from Saturday to Tuesday. UBC will begin the tournament with two games on Saturday, one at 11 a.m. against Dickinson State of North Dakota, followed by a 1:30 p.m. matchup against NAIA No. 10 Olivet Nazarene of Bourbonnais, Ill.