VANCOUVER – With a postseason berth on the line, the UBC Thunderbirds (22-18, 12-8) swept Friday's doubleheader against the Warner Pacific Knights (12-23, 7-12), earning a 3-0 win in game one, then a 9-1 mercy rule-shortened five inning victory in game two to punch their conference playoff ticket for an eighth consecutive season.
"[Clinching] is something you never take for granted", reflected UBC head coach Jenn McKellar. "It's our big goal at the beginning of every year. It's a job well done, but the job is nowhere near done."
UBC's pitching was the story of the day, as
Carleen Murray allowed just two hits over seven innings while striking out 12 for the complete game shutout in game one. Then, in game two,
Brynn Fortier and
Mila Anderson combined for nine strikeouts across five innings of one-run ball to seal the sweep.
"Our pitching staff has been outstanding all year, they just don't always get that kind of run support", mused coach McKellar. "It was nice to get them runs so they can be up there and show off what we know they have and get that credit too because it really is a staff of five. To have all three that threw today get that recognition, it's just so well deserved."
Game 1:
The Knights got some early base runners via a hit and a walk in the opening frame, but Murray took it upon herself to settle things down for UBC as she went on to punch out five over the first two innings. Warner Pacific starting pitcher Kili Makanani was also on point, tallying three strikeouts while keeping the 'Birds hitless through two, both offences held completely at bay.
UBC's
Brielle Donoghue led off in the bottom of the third and connected on a single to shallow left for the T-Birds' first hit of the ball game. A couple of batters later and with a runner now in scoring position,
Tegan Harnett delivered a single through the left side to score the game's first run.
The T-Birds looked to add onto their narrow advantage in the bottom of the fourth as
Ava Bromley led off with the hardest hit ball of the day, sending a liner into centrefield for a hit. A pair of walks followed to load the bases before
Jessica Heutink stepped in the box. After a battle, she popped one up to shallow right, finding the glove of the WPU second baseman who swiftly fired a laser home to double-up the runner who tried to sneak in for third, converting the double play at the plate to end the frame and the threat.
The 'Birds were faced with some déjà vu in the bottom half of the fifth, as a hit, a bunt and an error loaded the bases once again. This time, Zoe Willington put the ball in play, leading to a fielder's choice while a runner crossed home to tally another for UBC.
After Heutink blasted an RBI-double to mark a three-run lead for UBC in the sixth, Murray took to the rubber in the seventh, striking out two of the final three batters to seal the complete game, shutout win.
"Anytime we give [Murray] the ball, she gives us a chance to win. She is really dedicated to her process, and I think that's what she relies on in pressure situations", began coach McKellar, on the hurler's clutch gene. "There's not one moment that's bigger than the other. Everything matters. Whether it's a big lead or no lead, she keeps us in the game. She knows how much it means to everyone, because it means so much to her too."
Game 2:
After both sides traded blows in the early going, the 'Birds looked to snap the 1-1 tie in the bottom of the second. A walk, an error and a pair of singles pieced together a couple of runs for UBC, establishing some breathing room. Then, with two runners in scoring position,
Marin Jorgenson belted one up the middle for a two-RBI single to cap off the five-run frame, inflating the T-Bird lead to 6-1.
The Knights looked to fire back in the following stanza by putting two runners in scoring position themselves, but UBC starter
Brynn Fortier remained composed and got out of the jam with a swinging strikeout to close the inning.
The T-Birds' bats stayed hot in the bottom of the third as they quickly loaded the bases with only one out gone.
Casey Lo then patiently earned a walk to tack on another run for UBC. Another single followed, this time off the bat of
Clare VanSpall, who drove in two more runners and made it a commanding 9-1 Thunderbird lead by the end of three.
Warner Pacific continued to battle at the plate, placing a few runners on over the next few frames, but couldn't muster much more, and eventually fell 9-1 in a five-inning game shortened due to the mercy rule.
Both sides will return to Collings Field at Nobel Park to close out the four-game set with another doubleheader on Saturday, April 18. First pitch for game one is set for 11 a.m. (PT).
