Blake Murphy Sports Writing

VANCOUVER – The UBC Thunderbirds wrapped up a successful four-day trip to Arizona, going 1-2 on Saturday.

Playing top-ranked California State University-San Marcos on Saturday morning in their eighth game at the Tucson Invitational Games, UBC hung tough but fell 1-0 in the end.

The Thunderbirds played scoreless ball until they fell behind in the fifth inning. They managed to load the bases in the bottom of the seventh, threatening to upset San Marcos. Unfortunately, Carlyn Shimizu (Richmond, BC) sent a screaming liner up the middle that the pitcher was able to corral for the final out.

UBC was led by Leigh Della Siega (White Rock, BC), who struck out eight while completing the game, holding an excellent offence in check with just five hits and three walks.

The Thunderbirds would then defeat Dickinson State University 4-3, riding solid outings from top pitchers Nicole Day (Surrey, BC) and Alana Westerhof (Delta, BC). Day threw six strong innings allowing two runs on six hits, while Westerhof got in some trouble but shut the door in the seventh.

Shimizu and Yasmin Bains (Richmond, BC) teamed up to do the damage at the plate with two hits apiece. Shimizu scored Bains with a triple in the first, while Bains would later bring home Cassandra Dypchecy (Surrey, BC) when she reached on an error.

In their final match-up of the games, UBC fell to Jamestown College, 9-5. The Thunderbirds opened up hot with three runs in the first, but Jamestown chipped away and scored in the first, fourth and sixth, including six runs to take the lead and add some insurance in the bottom of the sixth.

It was the first time UBC’s pitching staff struggled in Arizona, as they hadn’t given up more than five runs in a game before this. Jamie Randall (Richmond, BC) struck out 11 batters but ran out of gas in the big sixth inning, while the bullpen was unable to bail her out.

Dypchey chipped in again on offence with a long home run to left field, a solo shot that at the time gave the Thunderbirds a 5-3 lead.

Overall, UBC had quite a successful trip to the desert, finishing 7-3 to improve their overall record to 17-14. They outscored their ten opponents 45-22, staking their claim as a potential sleeping giant despite their slow start to the year.

The Thunderbirds will now return home to host a 10-game series at North Delta Park, braving the anticipated cold from March 25-29 against three different opponents.