VANCOUVER – After a break of nearly a month, the UBC Thunderbirds softball team will return to action on Sunday, April 13 for its final NAIA regular season game of 2014.
The 'Birds (13-13) will face the Simon Fraser University Clan (4-27) in Burnaby, with the first pitch slated for 5 p.m.
UBC is on a five-game win streak, outscoring its opponents 48-4 in the process, but hasn't played since a tripleheader on March 18 at the Tucson Invitational Games in Arizona. A home game against SFU at North Delta Park a week later was postponed and ultimately cancelled.
"SFU has been playing well lately and it should be a very competitive game," said UBC head coach
Gord Collings. "Our players have been working very hard and we have practiced every day. They are excited to be back on the field and playing competitively."
The Thunderbirds need a victory and hope the Association of Independent Institutions chooses them to participate in the league's five-team playoff tournament in Lawrenceville, Ga. next month.
The game will also allow the UBC softball program to honour its four senior players, pitcher
Leigh Della Siega of Surrey, outfielder
Carlyn Shimizu of Richmond, pitcher/outfielder
Alana Westerhof of Delta and Surrey native
Cassandra Dypchey, who plays third and first base.
Westerhof (8-8) leads the team with eight victories and a 3.15 earned run average in 82.1 innings of work. Shortstop
Yasmin Bains has driven in 21 runs, which is best on the UBC roster, while
Lindsey Ogilvie is the hottest hitting 'Bird with a .403 batting average. Shimizu tops the UBC lineup in hits (33), walks (17) and stolen bases (5).
SFU is on a three-game losing streak but were 2-2 over four outings before that. The team is winless in eight home games so far this year. They have 2-14 league record in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference of the NCAA's Division II.
Pitcher Jessica Goulet has three of the Clan's four wins on the season and sports a team-best 5.10 ERA. With a .354 batting average, Danielle Raison is the team leader in that category while Kaitlyn Cameron has 15 RBI.
