VANCOUVER - The UBC Thunderbirds softball team (7-16, 5-9) dropped both halves of the Saturday doubleheader at Softball City, falling 2-1 in extra innings and 7-6 to the Great Falls Argos (15-9, 7-5).
The first contest was very much a pitcher's battle, as UBC's
Lindsey Ogilvie (Surrey B.C.) and Argos ace Keeley Van Blaricom both went the distance, allowing just nine combined hits.
The decisive moment of the game came in the Argos' half of the eighth inning, as left fielder Alex Lowry smashed a solo home run to right field, giving her side the opening win.
The 'Birds started out well, as
Hillary Strelau (Richmond, B.C.) opened the scoring with a throwing error allowing her to make it home from third.
Lowry tied it up in the third frame, as her single drove in center fielder Morgan Robinson.
"I thought we played very well defensively in the first game today," said UBC head coach
Gord Collings. "Lindsey, in particular, was excellent, and she really dictated the flow of the game for us. You'd like a little more offense in a game like that, but overall, it was a much better effort."
The second half of the doubleheader was defined by a six-run second inning for Great Falls.
Tied 0-0, and with Ogilvie on the mound, a couple of costly errors extended the frame enough for the Argos to go to work. First baseman Kylie Prough got the scoring started, with her deep single scoring Van Blaricom and Mindy Larson.
After Jackie Thomas drove in another run soon after, Lowry cranked a three-run double to put the 'Birds in a 6-0 hole.
Down 7-2 in the bottom half of the sixth inning, UBC showed some terrific fight to get back in the contest.
Lindsey Ogilvie got the comeback started with a bases loaded walk. Then,
Shaelyn Ogilvie (Surrey, B.C.),
Montana Turnovitski (Langley, B.C.), and
Olivia Priestlay (Delta, B.C.) delivered back-to-back-to-back singles, each adding another run to the 'Birds total.
A scoreless final frame rendered the comeback attempt moot, as they suffered their third-straight loss.
A single error-filled inning costing them the game has become much too common for the T-Birds this season, an issue Collings addressed after the contest.
"Really, this a very young team, and they're going to learn from these moments," said the head coach. "I definitely like the battle we showed to come back as far as we did, but we can't keep getting ourselves in these situations."
The Thunderbirds return to action this Tuesday, April 5, as they take host the Northwest Eagles for a doubleheader at Softball City. The first half of the two-game set is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. (PT).
