BURNABY, B.C. - The Simon Fraser University Clan softball team defeated their crosstown rivals, the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds on Wednesday night at Beedie Field, 6-5 in extra innings.
"We wanted to get some innings in," said Head Coach Mike Renney. "We played our bench and they made some mistakes in some situations but we need the experience. Our younger players need that for when they get the call in a conference game down the road. I was happy that we got 13 hits but wasn't happy we gave up 10. We had an early lead that we gave up but we battled back. UBC is a quality team, I wish them the best and I think they can do well in the NAIA playoffs."
Kelsie Hawkins (Victoria, BC) got the start and came back in to finish the game for the Clan, earning the win. In total, she threw five innings, giving up seven hits and three runs, all earned.
She earned her 12th win of the season, putting her in a tie for the GNAC lead.
Mackenzie Bender (St. Albert, AB) came on in relief of Hawkins and threw two and a third innings, allowing two runs on three hits while
Alex Baylak (Regina, SK) threw two thirds of an inning.
Lauren Mew (Vancouver, BC) went two for three for SFU with a run batted in and Baylak went three for five while
Trisha Bouchard (Montreal, QC) went one for two, scoring twice.
The Clan jumped out to a 3-0 lead after the first two innings but UBC came back, taking a 5-3 lead in the fifth inning after scoring three in the fourth and two in the fifth inning.
Carly Lepoutre (Pickering, ON) had two hits and drove in two runs. In the fifth inning Lepoutre had a double, driving in Bouchard and Lauren Kolenko (North Vancouver, BC) to tied the game 5-5.
The score remained tied until the eighth when Kolenko stepped up to the plate with a runners on second and third and singled home
Kaitlyn Cameron (Langley, BC) to give SFU the 6-5 walk off win.
With the win, SFU's regular season record improves to 21-16.
SFU will be back in action at home when they host third place Western Oregon University on April 20 in a double header beginning at 1 p.m. The game will be fan appreciation day, when all fans are admitted free of charge.
