Need to Know
The UBC Thunderbirds softball team (10-19, 8-12) are set to square off against a pair of Cascade Collegiate Conference foes this weekend, as they hit the road for doubleheaders against the Eastern Oregon Mountaineers (21-19, 10-8), and the College of Idaho Yotes (12-17-1, 6-12).
 
The 'Birds will first hit up La Grande, Ore., where they will take on the Mountaineers in a two-game series that is set to begin at 2:00 p.m. (PT) on Friday, April, 15. Then, the 'Birds head straight to Caldwell, Ida., where they will take on the Yotes in a back-to-back on Saturday, April 16 – the first game is set for 11:00 a.m. (PT).
 
Last Week
After opening last weekend with a pair of 7-3 losses to the Corban Warriors, the 'Birds earned a split against the Northwest Christian Beacons by way of a 4-3 loss and convincing 8-4 win.
 
By the Numbers
1 – In the second inning of the 8-4 win over the Beacons, Olivia Priestlay (Delta, B.C.) launched a two-run blast over the right fence, putting the 'Birds up 2-0 on her first career home run.
 
5 – Shayla Kaplen (Richmond, B.C.) has been held without a hit in just five of 26 games played this season, and only three since the T-Birds' opening weekend.
 
The Matchup
The 'Birds and Eastern Oregon last saw each other during the 2015 Concordia University Northwest Cup, and it was a game to remember – the two sides combined for 30 runs as the Mountaineers came away with a 17-13 win.
 
That same tournament was also the last time the 'Birds faced off against the College of Idaho, as they took a 5-0 decision over the Yotes.
 
Eastern Oregon's Haley Hess has been one of their primary offensive drivers all season – the  senior infielder not only gets on base, with a batting percentage of 0.397 and an on-base percentage of 4.90, she also converts on them, sitting second in the CCC with 42 runs scored.
 
As for Idaho, they have dropped seven of their past eight contests, and were blanked twice by the Carroll College Fighting Saints in their most recent doubleheader, falling in 6-0 and 4-0 decisions.
 
Coach's Take
"We have to get the combination together," says head coach Gord Collings. "The pitching, hitting, and defence. If we can get all three of those going we will be fine. These are good teams we are playing this weekend. They're fighting for playoff spots in their division, so we are going to be challenged."