The Matchup
With just two weekends of conference action remaining, the UBC Thunderbirds (8-13, 11-20) are making a push for the playoffs with a critical series this weekend hosting the Northwest University Eagles (5-16, 12-28) Friday and Saturday, April 20 and 21.
Currently tied with the College of Idaho for the sixth and final conference championship berth, the 'Birds have just six games remaining, all against teams below them in the standings. The Eagles are three games back of the T-Birds with both still gunning for that final playoff spot.
Last season the 'Birds went a perfect 3-0 against NU in conference play and swept both games the last time UBC hosted the Eagles back in 2016.
First pitch for Friday's doubleheader is set for 1:30 p.m. PT. Saturday's conference finale is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. PT with a non-conference game going at 1:00 p.m. PT, all at Softball City in Surrey.
Last Action
UBC went 3-2 combined through two conference series last weekend. The T-Birds went 2-1 in La Grande, Oregon against the Eastern Oregon Mountaineers Friday and Saturday before splitting a two-game set against the Corban Warriors in Caldwell, Idaho on Sunday.
The Eagles suffered a three-game series sweep at the hands of the Carroll College Fighting Saints. Northwest enters this weekend having lost five in a row and eight of their last nine.
By the Numbers
7.42 – The average number of hits per game by the Thunderbirds. UBC tied a conference-play season high with 14 hits in last Saturday's win over Eastern Oregon.
4.15 – UBC's pitching staff's earned run average on the season.
Players to Watch
Emma Tuson (#7, RHP) – The junior picked up a pair of wins last weekend pitching a total of 18 innings allowing just six combined earned runs. The Maple Ridge native has earned a win in each of her last four starts.
Sydney Brown (#3, SS) – Brown leads the Thunderbirds with a .353 batting average and sits second on the team with a .432 slugging percentage. The senior shortstop from Langley had a terrific series against Eastern Oregon going 6/12 with three RBI.
Coach's Take
Northwest University may have struggled of late, but UBC head coach
Gord Collings knows his team will have to be at their best if they intend to keep pushing towards the post-season.
"We're going to see their best," said Collings who is looking to advance to the conference championship tournament for the second straight year. "As much as their record doesn't indicate it, they have competed against the top teams very well and some of their losses against the upper echelon have been very close games. They're well coached and while they seem to be on hard times right now they're going to come out and want to win. We need to come out and be ready to play.
Pitching has been a strength of the 'Birds down the stretch with some key performances on the mound from the likes of
Emma Tuson and rookie
Chantelle Twynstra.
"(Emma) is so composed out there and while she'll give up the odd big hit, she just bounces back and gets refocused and gets back in there and the team has rallied behind her," said Collings who is impressed with his team's resilience and growing confidence in their ability to battle back. "We've been stressing having confidence in yourself and belief in yourself and the girls I think have developed that in the latter part of the season. We need to just put it all together and believe in ourselves."
