Eastern Oregon celebrates Lauren Burchak's home run in Game 2 against UBC
SURREY, B.C. – It was too little, too late for the UBC Thunderbirds as they were unable to mount large enough comebacks in dropping both ends of a doubleheader against Eastern Oregon on Friday afternoon.
In both games the 'Birds (5-21, 4-13 CCC) fell behind early, but had their bats wake up in the late innings. They were down 6-0 until the bottom of the seventh in Game 1, before coming back to score four runs, but ultimately falling short in a 6-4 loss.
In the second game, UBC fell behind 5-1 to EOU (24-11, 15-5) before tying things up and sending it to extra innings, only to be defeated 7-5 in the eighth.
"I think in both games the pitchers did well enough to win," said UBC head coach Gord Collings. "Our defence didn't support them and our hitting wasn't there until the end. We can't leave it until the end of the game to start hitting."
Game 1
Eastern Oregon capitalized on two UBC errors in the top of the first to take a 1-0 lead and then did the bulk of their damage in the top of the third. After Eastern Oregon tagged UBC starter Zoe Gillis for a double, a RBI single and a walk, Mountaineer third baseman Chelsea Spanier drove a pitch over the centre field fence for a three run homer.
The 'Birds would make it interesting in the bottom of the seventh, as they combined three hits with a pair of Mountaineer errors to put four runs across and bring the tying run to the plate. But Eastern Oregon reliever Hailey Kline was able to strike out UBC designated player Lindsey Ogilvie to end the game.
'Birds third baseman Montana Turnovitski had two base hits on the day, while pinch hitter Emily Chorpita had two RBIs.
Gillis (3-8) took the loss for the 'Birds, giving up four earned runs in three innings of work. Lindsey Ogilvie pitched an excellent game in relief, giving up just one earned run over her four innings.
Haylie Van Laethem (7-6) picked up the win for Eastern Oregon.
Game 2
The second game of the doubleheader was heavy with dramatics. UBC was already behind 3-0 in the bottom of the fourth when Lexie Brenneis drilled a home run over the left field fence.
Down 5-1 in the bottom of the fourth, the 'Birds took advantage of two errant throws by the Mountaineers which allowed both Hillary Strelau and Sydney Brown to score, making the score 5-3.
UBC's offence picked up where they left on in the bottom of the sixth as Lindsey Ogilvie knocked an RBI single followed by a wild sequence that allowed Shaelyn Ogilvie to cross home plate with the tying run.
On that play, Strelau bunted her way on base, moving Sierra Sherritt to second and Shaelyn Ogilvie to third. The EOU catcher then threw to ball back to the pitcher to start the next play, but missed, allowing Shaelyn Ogilvie to score.
The game would need an extra inning and in the top of the eighth, Lena Richards and Cheyenne Barker both drove in runs to put the Mountaineers out front 7-5.
In the bottom of the eighth, UBC threatened as Chorpita and Strelau both singled before Sydney Brown walked. With the bases loaded, Mountaineer pitcher Kline got Lindsey Ogilvie to look at strike three, ending the 'Birds' comeback attempt.
Kline (14-5) went the distance for Eastern Oregon in the win, while Lindsey Ogilvie (2-7) also pitched a complete game in the defeat.
The two teams will renew acquaintances in a doubleheader on Saturday at Softball City in Surrey. The opening pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m. PT.