LA GRANDE, Ore. - After dropping both decisions in the series opening double header on Friday the UBC Thunderbirds responded on Saturday by winning both contests, 4-1 and 6-5 to split the weekend road series.
GAME ONE
Game 1 remained scoreless until the sixth inning when Kennedy Ainge broke the deadlock for UBC with an RBI single, sending Keona Nordquist across home plate to put the Thunderbirds up 1-0. British Columbia continued to capitalize in the sixth inning, as Avery Mossop singled to second base, bringing in two more runs. Kaitlyn Eng and Kaitlyn Kim crossed the plate, extending the lead to 3-0.
However, the Mountaineers fought back in the bottom of the sixth. Madison Olson's double down the left-field line allowed Olivia Brown to score, putting Eastern Oregon on the board, trailing 3-1.
In the final inning, British Columbia extended their lead once more after Nordquist capitalized on a throwing error to score her second run of the game and secure the 4-1 victory. Shae Sever (3-1) was strong in going the distance to earn the victory for the 'Birds, striking out five while allowing just one run in seven innings pitched.
British Columbia Thunderbirds
Keona Nordquist: 1 for 4, 2 runs scored.
Avery Mossop: 2 for 3, 2 RBIs.
Kennedy Ainge: 1 RBI
Eastern Oregon Mountaineers
Madison Olson: 1 for 1, 1 RBI.
Haley Tyree: 1 for 4.
Kelly Monaghan: 1 for 3.
GAME TWO
The second game kicked off with Eastern Oregon taking an early lead in the first inning. Olson's single to left field brought in Carlee Jensen, giving the Mountaineers a 1-0 advantage.
British Columbia responded strongly in the third inning, scoring four runs to take the lead. Nordquist's double to center field drove in Eng, followed by Kaitlyn Kim's single to left field, bringing in Brielle Donoghue. Gabrielle Dorval then doubled to center field, scoring Nordquist. The Thunderbirds extended their lead further as Ainge's sacrifice fly to right field allowed Dorval to score, making it 4-1 in favor of British Columbia.
Eastern Oregon rallied back in the third inning, with Olson once again coming through with a clutch single to center field, driving in two runs. This narrowed the gap to 4-3. In the fourth inning, Katelynn Evans' single to shortstop brought in Kelly Monaghan, tying the game at 4-4.
However, British Columbia regained the lead in the fifth inning, as Dorval's groundout to third base allowed Donoghue to score, putting the Thunderbirds ahead 5-4.
Eastern Oregon continued to fight, leveling the score once again in the sixth inning. Addison Ribordy's single to second base brought in Maddy Stateler, tying the game at 5-5.
In the final inning, British Columbia managed to break the deadlock once more. Dorval's single to right field drove in Nordquist, setting a final score of 6-5 in favor of the Thunderbirds. Riley Woodward (1-1) was credited with the win, allowing just one run across and striking out two batters in three innings pitched.
British Columbia Thunderbirds
Keona Nordquist: 3 for 4, 2 runs scored, 1 RBI.
Gabrielle Dorval: 3 for 4, 3 RBIs.
Brielle Donoghue: 2 for 3, 2 runs scored.
Eastern Oregon Mountaineers
Madison Olson: 3 for 4, 3 RBIs.
Carlee Jensen: 1 for 2, 2 runs scored.
Addison Ribordy: 2 for 2, 1 RBI.
Next up, the T-Birds return home to host a four game series against the College of Idaho beginning with a doubleheader Friday March, 22nd with games at 2:00 and 4:00 p.m. followed by two-games Saturday March, 23rd beginning at 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. PT. at Collings Field at Nobel Park.
