VANCOUVER, BC – Following a six-game road trip, the UBC Thunderbirds (12-11) return to Collings Field at Nobel Park this weekend for a four-game series with The College of Idaho Yotes (17-4) beginning with a double-header on Friday, April 15^th at 1:30 p.m. (PT). The series will then close with another pair of games the next morning on Saturday, April 16^th starting at 11:00 a.m. (PT). 
 
UBC recently finished their road trip by taking three of four games against the Carroll College (Mont.) Saints this past weekend. Mia Valcke opened scoring in game one with an RBI double in the top of the third inning, followed shortly by an Olivia Malesku single that drove in two more runs to put the T-Birds ahead 3-0. The Saints answered with two runs in the next inning, but it was not enough as the home team was held to just one hit as reliever Lindsay Bell successfully closed the 3-2 win.



The 'Birds were bested in the second game as the home team scored four runs in the first inning and six runs in the third inning. A couple of explosive innings made the difference as UBC fell 10-2 in five innings, Emma Dorval and Malesku drove in the two runs.
 
After a short rest, the teams stepped back onto the diamond Saturday morning for the final two games of the series, which saw UBC take their play to another level. Opening with a convincing 8-0 win in just five innings, and then wrapping the series up with a 6-2 victory. Hanna Hansen and Malesku both added three RBI on the day, while Dorval added a pair.


 
The Yotes enter the weekend on a four-game win streak after sweeping the Bushnell Beacons in their most recent action. Their balanced offence is led by the trio of Kaily Christensen (31 RBI), Hattie Hruza (32 RBI), and Tanner Higgins (35 RBI). A pair of senior right-handed pitchers do most of the work for the Yotes, as Katelyn Wilfert and Hannah McNerney have combined for 124 strikeouts.
 
The T-Birds have had to adapt to a season that has seen them play just 28 games due to numerous cancellations, but the team has stayed focused through steady hitting and youthful pitching. Offensively, impressive batting averages from Valcke (.360), Malesku (.369), and Dorval (.338) power the 'Birds attack to put pressure on opposing pitchers. Second year pitcher Shelby Kempel has now pitched 77.1 innings this season, and holds a 6-7 record. First year Shae Server continues her stellar rookie campaign with the T-Birds, as she has tallied 50 strikeouts in just 40 innings of work.
 

• Game 1: Friday, April 15th - 1:30 p.m. (PT)
• Game 2: Friday, April 15th - 3:30 p.m. (PT)
• Game 3: Saturday, April 16th - 11:00 a.m. (PT)
• Game 4: Saturday, April 16th - 1:00 p.m. (PT)