PORTLAND - The UBC Thunderbirds (1-4) softball team dropped consecutive games Saturday in a shortened version of the Concordia University Northwest Cup tournament.
The 'Birds were supposed to play two games on Sunday as well, but both were canceled due to an impending storm heading for the Pacific Northwest.
The games were the final ones of UBC's exhibition schedule, as they open conference play at Softball City in Surrey next weekend. UBC will play the Corban Warriors (Ore.) in a four game set.
Game 1 – Saint Martin's Saints (Wash.) 8 – UBC Thunderbirds 2
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The game started favorably for UBC as their first three batters all singled in the top of the first. Catcher
Lexie Brenneis drove a 2-1 pitch into right centre that scored both
Hillary Strelau and
Sydney Brown, putting the 'Birds in business with a 2-0 lead.
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But in the bottom of the fourth, with runners on the corner Saint Martin's catcher Jackie Schmaeling drilled a
Zoe Gillis pitch over the wall in right-centre field.
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Saint Martin's used the long ball to add insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth as Mary Dettling's two-run bomb keyed a four run inning that put Saint Martin's in the lead, 8-2.
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Gillis gave up seven earned runs over 5.2 innings in taking the loss, while Lindsay Miller picked up the victory for the Saints on a 5.2 innings, two run, eight hit performance.
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Game 2 – Concordia Cavaliers (Ore.) 8 – UBC Thunderbirds 5
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Brenneis got off to a hot start in UBC's second game, driving in Strelau with a single in the top of the first.
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In the top of the fifth inning, Strelau scored on a fielder's choice followed by a
Claire Eccles single that drove in two more runs and UBC found themselves out front, 4-1.
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The Cavaliers got to UBC pitcher
Lindsey Ogilvie for three doubles in the bottom of the fifth, before Rylleigh Zbaraschuk drilled a 2-1 pitch over the right field wall. The Cavaliers were ahead 7-4 and never looked back.
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UBC got one back in the top of the seventh when pinch runner
Mackenzie Siddall scored on sacrifice fly, but the 'Birds couldn't get any more. Concordia would come out on top 8-5.
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UBC will play their first home series of 2017 next March 3, 4, and 5 when they welcome the Corban Warriors (Ore.) to Softball City in Surrey, BC