Need to Know

Coming off their first week as members of the Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC), the UBC Thunderbirds softball team (4-9-0, 4-2-0) will head south for the weekend, as they are set to face the Oregon Tech Owls (10-11, 5-1) and Southern Oregon Raiders (15-9, 3-3) on the road in a pair of back-to-back doubleheaders.
 
Taking place in Klamath Falls, OR, the games against Oregon Tech are scheduled for Friday, March 25, with the first contest beginning at 2:00 p.m. (PT). In Ashland, OR, the 'Birds will face the Raiders on Saturday, March 26, with the first game set for an 11:00 a.m. (PT) start.
 

Last Week

The Thunderbirds went 4-2 last week, earning splits against the Northwest Eagles and  Northwest Christian Beacons before sweeping the then-17th-ranked Corban Warriors with 9-3 and 4-3 wins.
 

By The Numbers

8 – En route to being named the CCC's Red Lion Player of the Week, outfielder Shayla Kaplen (Richmond, B.C.) drove in eight runs for the 'Birds in last week's six games, also drawing seven walks and going a perfect 3-for-3 on stolen bases.
 
0.560 – Kaplen has also shown a knack for getting on base, as her OBP of 0.560 ranks atop the CCC. Teammate Hilary Strelau (Richmond, B.C.) sits second in the CCC with an OBP of 0.547. Oregon Tech's Tara Moates comes in at a distant third place with an OBP of 0.526.
 

The Matchup

After going 0-4 against the Owls last season, UBC will be facing an Oregon Tech side that is coming into the weekend with a ton of momentum. In their two games against Northwest Christian last week, the Owls won by a combined 16 runs, 10-2 and 8-0.
 
The Raiders were swept by Corban earlier this afternoon, and will host Northwest on Friday before facing the 'Birds the day after. Southern Oregon's early-season success can be partially accredited to the play of senior outfielder Kayleen Smith, who sits third in the CCC in hits (33), sixth in batting average (0.418), and first in stolen bases (21), nearly double second place (two players - 12).
 

Coach's Take

"If you look at both teams' records, I think this is going to be a pretty good challenge of a weekend," said UBC head coach Gord Collings. "The thing is, I think if we can get the pitching we need to stay in the game, we have been pretty good on offense this year, and I think that we can win at the plate. We just need to stay within striking distance, and I think we have a really good shot and getting the results we want."