VANCOUVER – The UBC Thunderbirds (5-5, 4-2) settled into their new digs with a 7-5 victory over the University of Providence Argonauts (0-8, 0-6) on a sunny Saturday afternoon at Collings Field at Noble Park. The backend of the doubleheader saw the T-Birds earn a 6-2 win over the Argos in non-Coastal Collegiate Conference action to close out an undefeated home opening weekend on the Point Grey campus.
"It's so rewarding," said UBC head coach
Gord Collings after the 'Birds captured four consecutive victories in their home field debut. "To see all the people out and supporting for the first weekend ever at UBC is what the girls have been waiting for all these years. I'm just thrilled they now get the opportunity to play at home in front of their friends and family."
Game 1 – UBC 7, Providence 5
After three scoreless innings in game one, the 'Birds exploded for four runs in the fourth after a leadoff triple by
Mia Valcke jumpstarted the T-Birds' bats.
Nicole Salas brought in Valcke with an RBI single to right before an
Emma Dorval RBI line-drive double scored
Kaitlyn Eng for a 2-0 lead.
Emilie Sherritt then earned an RBI bunt single and
Arshleen Bajwa scored after a Providence error at 3-0 UBC. The 'Birds weren't done yet, as Sherritt stole second and
Emma Dorval stole home to cap off the thrilling inning with a 4-0 advantage.
The Argos stormed back with a five-run fifth inning, as Jaelena Trujillo came in as a pinch-hitter and smacked an RBI single past first base for Providence's first run. Taylor Mathews followed up with a two-run single to left that brought the Argos within one at 4-3. After a walk, UBC's
Shae Sever relieved starting pitcher
Shelby Kempel – but Sever gave up a deep two-run double off the bat of McKenna Montgomery to give Providence a 5-4 edge.
Sever retired three straight Argos batters in the top of the sixth before
Kaitlyn Kim entered the game in the top of the seventh for UBC as a pinch-hitter and cranked a two-RBI liner to left and reclaimed the lead. With the bases loaded and two out, Valcke earned an RBI single through centre field and the 'Birds carried a 7-5 lead into the seventh. Sever sat down three straight batters to secure the save, while Kempel racked up six strikeouts through four and two-thirds innings for the win.
Game 2 – UBC 6, Providence 2
The visitors got on the board early in game two, as Macy Mangold stole home to open the scoring in the first. Ryen Palmer stole home in the second inning as Trujillo stole second base for a 2-0 lead, but UBC scored three runs on three hits in the fourth.
Olivia Malesku drove in two runs with a liner deep to left field to tie it up, and
Gabrielle Dorval dropped a double into centre field for a one-run lead.
Hannah Clegg scored on an Argos error for a 4-2 T-Bird advantage in the fifth before a deep sac fly by
Keona Nordquist brought in
Emma Dorval for a 5-2 cushion heading into the sixth. Malesku cranked a double to right centre field and scored on a deep sacrifice fly to centre by Valcke to make it 6-2.
Lindsay Bell earned the victory with three strikeouts through seven innings of play for the Thunderbirds.
"The pitching was quite a bit slower today and we were over hitting," said Collings as the T-Birds staved off a strong push from Providence to solidify the series sweep. "Our timing was off, and we weren't prepared for that slower pitcher – but sometimes it takes a while for them to adjust, and they eventually did. We had outstanding defence again today, especially that play by Nordquist at second base…also the fly ball and throw out at home base. I can't say enough about how we play defense. It's just great."
UBC is back on the road next weekend to face Eastern Oregon University on March 11
th and 12
th in La Grande, Oregon, while Providence hosts the Southern Oregon University Raiders.
