EUGENE, Ore. – The UBC Thunderbirds limited the Northwest Christian Beacons to just three hits over two games as the 'Birds swept a double header for the second consecutive day by scores of 10-1 and 3-0.
The Thunderbirds (13-23, 11-13 CCC) took a one-game lead on Carroll College (15-19, 10-14 CCC) for the sixth and final playoff spot after the Saints split their double-header with No. 15 Corban on Saturday. This sets up a monumental battle in a neutral-site triple-header between Carroll and UBC on Sunday. The first team to win two will claim the series and the final slot in the conference tournament.
Game One
The T-Birds needed five innings for the run-rule victory as they poured on 16 hits. The top three batters in the order were virtually untouchable, combining to hit 10-for-12 with seven runs and six RBI. In the nine-hole,
Mackenzie Siddall also made noise with a 3-for-3 game, scoring twice.
After taking a 2-0 lead in the top of the first first, the biggest blow came in the second on a Grand Slam from
Lexie Brenneis who went 3-for-3 with five RBI in the game.
Sydney Brown scored three runs on three hits and
Hillary Strelau led all players with four hits in the game.
Zoe Gillis (7-9) allowed just two hits and struck out three batters in route to the conference victory. Paige Griffith and Avery Daniels produced the Beacons pair of hits with Griffith scoring on Daniels RBI double in the bottom of the first.
Boyles suffered the loss for the Beacons, striking out two batters but allowing seven earned runs over the first 2.1 innings. Sophomore Madi Jones came in and provided solid relief, allowing just three hits over the final 2.2 innings without allowing another run.
Game Two
The non-conference closing contest also went to the T-Birds as sophomore pitchers
Darrian Gerard and
Emma Tuson combined for a one-hitter. Gerard (2-2) allowed the one hit in five innings of work, striking out three. Tuson earned her first save of the season with a scoreless final two innings.
UBC picked up their runs with two in the sixth and one in the seventh.
Lindsey Ogilvie, Sierra Sherrit and Siddall each had two hits.
Griffith collected the Beacon's only hit with a double. Boyles (0-8) took the loss but allowed just two earned runs in seven innings of work with four strikeouts.
