VANCOUVER, B.C. – Head coach Jennifer McKellar could not have drawn up a nicer way to end the regular season, with great weather and great softball on the display between the UBC Thunderbirds (22-16, 16-11) and the Corban Warriors (4-41, 3-24), on UBC's Senior Day.
The first game of the day was a tight 4-2 affair, before the T-Birds pulled away late in the second to take it 8-0.
"We couldn't ask for a better day and better way to celebrate our seniors," enthused McKellar after the doubleheader. "We're so happy with how today went, all they've accomplished so far this year, and the fact that we were able to capitalize and build on our momentum going into the postseason."
Beyond just this season, today marked a milestone moment in the history of the UBC Softball program, as the T-Birds clinched a top-four seed in the Cascade Collegiate Conference standings for the first time.
"It feels amazing, but I can't take much credit," said McKellar. "It's all on the athletes and everything they've poured into this year, the goals they've set and the belief they have in each other and the way they play. They've earned this and I can't be more proud of them."
A number of the graduating players played key roles in the day's affair. Highlights included
Madison MacGillivray hitting 3-3 with a run scored in the second game,
Kaitlyn Kim landing multiple hits and an RBI in the first,
Keona Nordquist extending her hit streak to 14 games, and
Riley Woodward earning her first win of the season on the mound with 4.2 scoreless innings pitched in the second outing.
Peyton Foreman, Leata Senio, Alicia Chavez and Mckenna Hanson all had multi-hit games for the visiting Warriors, while Breanna Crosby drove home both of their runs on the day.
GAME ONE
Corban put the pressure on early, with a leadoff single from Regan McDaniel and a double from Foreman putting runners in scoring position. The T-Birds, however, managed to escape without a run against them, thanks in part due to a well-executed rundown on a bunt attempt that led to
Kennedy Laird tagging out McDaniel at home.
In the bottom half of the opening frame, Kim continued her strong play on the weekend with an RBI single to right field that scored Nordquist.
Marin Jorgenson did the same right after her, this time spraying the ball to left and bringing home
Shae Sever.
Jessica Heutink then landed two RBI of her own to make it 4-0 for the home team.
That was all the scoring that the Thunderbirds managed in the game, but it turned out to be enough to see it through. The Warriors did certainly made them work, as a two-out rally in the top of the third led to a two-run single from Crosby to cut the lead in half.
Facing their final three outs in the seventh, Corban managed to get the tying run on first base with one out, but
Carleen Murray (who pitched 4.1 scoreless innings in relief) shut them down from there to seal the win.
GAME TWO
The Warriors again had a strong opening inning, forcing the Thunderbirds into another good defensive play when Woodward tossed a ground ball back to Zoë Willington who tagged out a runner at home on a fielder's choice.
UBC loaded the bases in the second, and cashed in one run with a Nordquist sacrifice fly. The hosts added two more in the fourth, when pinch-hitter
Catrina Hedin stepped to the plate and whacked the ball straight up the middle for two runs.
The T-Birds teased the potential for some more scores in the bottom of the fifth, but a catch right at the fence on a deep ball from Kim and a great diving grab from Corban shortstop Senio kept them at bay for the time being.
Things did come to a head in the following inning, as the Thunderbirds poured in five runs to end their final home game of the season on a high. Two of the graduating seniors got the scoring going, with Nordquist and Sever firing back-to-back singles with three RBI between them. A bases loaded walk drawn by
Kennedy Ainge and one more single from
Brielle Donoghue sealed the deal with an 8-0 win.
Next up is a trip to Klamath Falls next week, where the T-Birds will take part in the CCC Championship. Their first game on Friday, May 2nd, is against the College of Idaho Yotes.
"We've always focused on playing our game, and tailoring our game to beating our opponents," added McKellar. "It's going to be all hands on deck, buying into our system and what we need to do. I know we'll be able to compete with whoever is in the other dugout."
That matchup between the fourth and fifth seeds in the conference kicks off at 9:00 a.m. (PT). No matter the result the T-Birds will play at least one more game after that, as it's a double elimination tournament.
