VANCOUVER - The UBC Thunderbirds (17-16, 9-8) lost two tight, pitching-dominated games to the NAIA No.4-ranked Oregon Tech Owls (29-7, 15-3) at Collings Field on Saturday. The 'Birds had their share of baserunners throughout the doubleheader but could not get anyone home during the two shutout losses, falling 6-0 in game one, then coming up short in a 2-0 affair in the series finale.
 
UBC saw its largest turnout of the season as fans showed out for Alumni Celebration Weekend. The 'Birds took to the field pre-game to gather for photos and speeches as the team celebrated former coach Erin Holtzmann and thanked her for her contributions to the program.

"It was a really great celebration, we had a really great turnout of alumni", said UBC head coach Jennifer McKellar.


 
Game 1:
The day began with a Nita Cook leadoff single for the Owls in the top of the first. Eventually making it to second, with two outs, Lexi Klum sent a deep shot into centre field for an RBI double to open the scoring. The damage would end there as UBC's starter Shae Sever was able to get the final out via a swinging strikeout.
 
Sever continued to find her stride as the game went on. Her team's offence continued to get baserunners on, whether it was through contact or discipline at the plate, but the 'Birds just couldn't get them home to give their hurler some run support. Sever battled through inning after inning, holding the mighty Owls offence off the board, and keeping it at a one run deficit going into the sixth.


 
In the top half of that frame, Sever got the first out before a batter reached via an error. A hit by pitch would get runners on first and second. After getting the second out of the inning, Sever worked her way to a three-two count, one pitch away from ending the threat. However, Owls' two-way player Mckenzie Staub ripped one down the left field line. Despite the impressive exit velocvity, UBC third baseman Gabrielle Dorval climbed the ladder and snagged the scorcher mid-air to end the inning and keep the score at 1-0.
 
Once in the top of the seventh, the game started to unravel for the home side. The Owls quickly loaded the bases with zero outs before another single would score the game's second run. The bleeding was tough to stop as an error, a bunt single, and two fielder's choice plays, led to four more runs, ballooning the visitor lead to 6-0 to end the frame and eventually the game.
 
"It was a really good, tight, one-run game through six and I think that shows us how close we are to the top teams in our conference, that we can compete", said McKellar. "I think our pitching staff did a really wonderful job of giving us a chance to win. The bats went a little cold, which happens when you play good pitching."
 

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Game 2:
The Owls' hot hitting carried over from the end of the last matchup as Nita Cook stepped into the box to leadoff the top of the first and delivered a deep drive over the left field fence for the solo shot. A walk would then earn another baserunner who eventually made their way to second. With two outs, Puakea Milbourne singled into left centre, netting the RBI and securing an early 2-0 lead for the visitors.  
 
As innings passed, the bats for the 'Birds were similar to the previous game, producing baserunners but not able to push them across the final sixty feet. This led to the game remaining even keeled as, between these two heavy-hitting squads, it was their defences and pitching that stole the show.


 
In the top of the seventh, the Owls looked to add some insurance runs before the 'Birds would take their final crack in the bottom half. With one out, Cook looked to replicate her first-inning homer, and once again she connected on one, this time shooting it to deep centre. UBC's fastest player, Caitlin Bradley-Tse, used all of her speed to run it down and make a challenging over-the- shoulder catch at the wall to keep her team within two.
 
Even that deficit proved to be too much for the T-Birds. The Owls brought in ace Kacie Schmidt for the seventh inning save, and she picked it up comfortably, closing the finale out after already picking up two complete game shutout wins on the weekend.
 
"We are practicing and really focusing on what we can do to bring clean defence", commented McKellar, after game two. "That's what we need to take into these tough matchups because if there's one mistake, they jump all over you."


 
Riley Woodward pitched a complete game for the home side. After giving up the leadoff homer, she only needed 91 pitches to complete the seven inning, six hit, performance.
 
"The opposing pitching changes were a testament to how much they wanted that game and how much they respect that we could have had something going", said McKellar. "I believe that's a huge takeaway from the weekend, being able to tell ourselves that we can compete."
 
The T-Birds will hit the road for their next series, travelling to Ashland to take on another powerhouse in the NAIA No.10-ranked Southern Oregon University Raiders (28-9, 15-3) for a four-game series. The first doubleheader is scheduled for Friday, April 12, starting at 2:00 p.m. (PT).