UBC's Madison MacGillivary at the plate as an Oregon Tech pitcher releases the ball, seen from behind the backstop
Vamsi Nadella/UBC Thunderbirds
8
Winner Oregon Tech OREGON T 27-6
0
British Columbia BRITISH 16-14
Winner
Oregon Tech OREGON T
27-6
8
Final
0
British Columbia BRITISH
16-14
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Oregon Tech OREGON T 3 1 0 0 0 3 1 8 10 0
British Columbia BRITISH 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 3

W: K. Schmidt (14-3) L: Sever, Shae (4-3)

1
Oregon Tech OREGON T 27-8
7
Winner British Columbia BRITISH 17-14
Oregon Tech OREGON T
27-8
1
Final
7
British Columbia BRITISH
17-14
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Oregon Tech OREGON T 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 6 3
British Columbia BRITISH 0 0 0 3 1 3 X 7 9 1

W: Murray, Carleen (9-4) L: M. Staub (10-4)

Game Recap: Softball | | Ian French (UBC Communications)

'Birds snap Owls' 19-game winning streak in doubleheader split

VANCOUVER, B.C. – The UBC Thunderbirds (17-14, 9-7) split Friday's doubleheader against the NAIA No.4-ranked Oregon Tech Owls (27-7, 14-3) at Collings Field on Friday. After only producing one hit in the 8-0 loss to start the day, the bats came alive for the 'Birds in game two, capitalizing on their nine hits to earn the 7-1 victory and snap the Owls' 19-game winning streak.

"I think we finished game one showing what we could do. We started to put runners on and have some good at bats, I think we just had a slow start", said UBC head coach Jennifer McKellar. "We didn't quite show up for what the Owls offer from the first pitch. But the team reset, built off the end of game one, and used that as momentum for game two."
 

Game 1

Oregon Tech went to work early, needing little time to deal damage. In the top of the first, a pair of singles and an error would load the bases for the visitors. Another walk followed, moving runners around the bags to score the first run of the game. Still with zero outs, Owls' catcher Jayce Seavert knocked one through the left side for the two RBI single, extending their lead to 3-0 to end the opening frame.
 
The Owls would go on to add on another run in the top of the second before the defence started to take over for both sides. With one out in the top of fifth inning, Lexi Klum stepped up to the plate for the Owls and sent a scorcher down the left field line, but it was met by the outstretched glove of UBC third-year infielder Gabrielle Dorval, who quickly transferred and sent a laser of a throw to first, beating the runner by a hair.
 
The Thunderbirds would continue to put the bat to the ball over the next few innings, but the ball kept finding Oregon Tech's gloves. Owls' pitcher Kacie Schmidt was throwing a perfect game through five.
 
Keona Nordquist seen from the side at maximum follow-through, at full stride with the bat wrapped around her and sticking in the air

Oregon Tech finally added to their lead in the middle innings, tacking on another three tallies in the top of the sixth on the strength of four singles and a passed ball.
 
The T-Birds were still looking to end the bid for perfection in the bottom half of the sixth, where, leading off for the home side, Madison MacGillivray had the at-bat of the game. After fouling off pitch after pitch, she was rewarded with a walk on the eleventh delivery from Schmidt, giving the 'Birds their first baserunner on the day.
 
Schmidt's no-hit bid would end in the final frame when UBC's Keona Nordquist led off with a bloop single into right field. Nordquist got to second after a subsequent walk, but no further. Schmidt finished off the one-hitter throwing just 87 pitches and allowing three baserunners in a dominant performance to give Owls' their 14th straight win in conference play and 19th straight overall.

Shave Sever delivering a pitch, standing straight up with her hand near her waist, moments after delivering the ball, which can be seen flying away from her and toward the camera
 
Game 2
 
Carleen Murray stepped into the circle to hurl for the home side, and after giving up a leadoff single to start, she quickly settled in and found her rhythm. After delivering two scoreless frames and a starting the third with a strikeout, the Owls found grass by the way of a Nita Cook single into left field. With only one out, and the threat of a double play looming, Cook took off and stole second before moving to third on a groundout. Murray appeared poised to escape the inning unscathed, but a two-out error allowed the Oregon Tech infielder to scamper home and open the scoring.
 
The bottom half of the third was quick for the 'Birds, with the early offensive struggles reminiscent of game one, but the home side wasn't willing to roll over. In the bottom of the fourth, the T-Birds strung a pair of singles together before UBC captain, and last week's Cascade Collegiate Conference Player of the Week, Shae Sever stepped into the box and delivered. The 'Birds two-way star knocked one through the right side for a game tying, RBI single. The hitting proved contagious, as two more knocks gave the blue and gold a 3-1 at the end of the fourth.

Shae Sever at the plate, seen from the side, mid-swing, bat roughly level and at waist height, and about to make contact with the ball, seen about 30 centimeters from the bat
 
The Thunderbirds would add another run to their advantage in the fifth, giving Murray a comfortable cushion to work with – and she held strong. The second-year had a quick, three-up three-down inning in the top of the sixth. With a boisterous bench buoying the 'Birds batters, UBC secured three more runs in their half of the sixth, giving them a 7-1 lead heading into the final stanza.
 
Murray was given the chance to finished what she started, and she never wavered. Still commanding the zone in her seventh frame, she was able to tie up hitters and earn three straight groundouts to end the game, as well as the Owls' remarkable 19-game winning streak.
 
Carleen Murray delivering a pitch, ball and glove high above her head

"Murray is just a very disciplined and focused pitcher who always works really hard and gives her best", said McKellar. "She wanted to bounce back from last weekend, and that's the type of competitor she is. She wanted to offer our team a chance to win, and she did more than that. The result was beautiful, but her prep all week was what really impressed me."
 
The two teams will return to Collings Field on Saturday for another doubleheader bout. In the midst of Alumni Weekend, a coaching celebration will take place 15 mins before game one, where former UBC coach Erin Holtzmann will be recognized for her contributions to the program. First pitch is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. (PT) and game two will follow at roughly 1:00 p.m. (PT).
 
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