April 8, 2023

By Toby Kerr

UBC Communications

VANCOUVER - The UBC Thunderbirds offence was firing on all cylinders Saturday, scoring at least 11 runs in each half of a dominant doubleheader sweep of the Bushnell Beacons.

Trent Lenihan (White Rock, B.C.) homered for the second consecutive day for the 'Birds and Mike Fitzsimmons (Chilliwack, B.C.) scored five runs and drove in five more, leading UBC to mercy Bushnell in both games at Tourmaline West Stadium. The T-Birds also took the first two games of the series on Friday, completing a second consecutive series sweep and extending their season-high winning streak to nine games.

"I think we're just starting to do what we're capable of," said UBC head coach Chris Pritchett. "There have been some points where we're pitching well but not hitting, or we're hitting and not defending, but all three have shown up in the last week or two. (Before) we were pressing when people were getting in scoring position, but I think the last couple of weeks the difference is that the guys are looking more relaxed in that situation. So we're now driving those guys in, putting points on the board, and starting to win some games."

Game One

The Thunderbirds (25-15) blanked the Beacons (19-14) 11-0 in seven innings on a rain-soaked field in the first game of the double dip. White Rock, B.C. native Daniel Orfaly (3-0) threw six scoreless innings and Aaron Marsh (Nanaimo, B.C.) had a pair of doubles to power the 'Birds to the decisive win.

The steady rain appeared to give Bushnell starter Ethan Paulson (1-3) trouble, as he threw as many wild pitches as strikes early in the first inning. UBC leadoff man Brett Corbeth (London, Ont.) reached on a four-pitch walk before Marsh blasted a double to left-centre field to score him. Paulson then began struggling even more to grip the ball, throwing multiple pitches behind T-Birds shortstop Mike Fitzsimmons and allowing Marsh to advance to third and then score without the ball being put in play. Fitzsimmons then smacked a single through the infield before Noah Or (Richmond, B.C.) drew a quick walk. Paulson appeared to start finding his rhythm from there, recording a pair of outs and giving himself a chance to limit the damage. However, David Draayers (Abbotsford, B.C.) drilled a two-strike pitch to right-centre field and scored both runners, extending the 'Birds first inning lead to 4-0.

Bushnell brought in a new pitcher to start the second, Trevor Hammond, but he struggled with command as well. T-Birds third baseman Cameron Sanderson (Ilderton, Ont.) drew a walk, advanced to second on a single by Marsh and scored on another single by Fitzsimmons. Cleanup hitter Or then blasted a double to left field to score both runners. UBC kept pouring it on, as pinch-runner Luciano Letteri (Coquitlam, B.C.) stole third and then scored on a throwing error by Beacons catcher Brandon Reed. After two innings the 'Birds held a commanding 8-0 lead.

UBC starter Daniel Orfaly seemed far less bothered by the wet weather than the visiting pitchers, holding Bushnell's hitters to just two infield singles over the first four innings,

The Beacons finally got some offence going in the fifth. Reed drew a leadoff walk before Liam Kerr smacked a one-out single to right field. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch, setting up a golden opportunity for second baseman Jacob Stoner. Stoner worked the count against Orfaly, but the pitcher ultimately got him to chase a full count pitch to record the second out. Beacons first baseman Cade Crist then stepped up and smacked a hard ground ball down the third base line that seemed sure to score both runners. T-Birds third basemen Cameron Sanderson made a desperation dive to his right, somehow gloved the ball cleanly at full extension, popped up, and made a strong throw to first to complete the improbable play and preserve the shutout, sending the UBC dugout into a frenzy in the process.

The 'Birds had a great chance to add to their lead in the fifth. Jonny McGill (Richmond, B.C.) and Trent Lenihan each poked singles through the infield to put runners on first and second. With two out, Sanderson smacked a hard single to centre. McGill never broke stride as he rounded third and went home, but Beacons centre fielder Brendan Frazier threw a laser to the plate to gun out McGill on a close play and end the inning.

UBC added three insurance runs in the sixth inning thanks to a pair of Bushnell errors, pushing the game into mercy territory and ultimately ending it at 11-0 before the 'Birds even batted in the seventh.

"I thought (Orfaly) was really good in tough conditions," said Pritchett of his starting pitcher. "I thought both teams were struggling with how wet it was, but as a freshman it was impressive to see him keep his poise. A couple of times they got some guys on base and he made really good pitches to get out of it. Really good outing."

Game Two

The second game saw the Thunderbirds use 20 hits to blast their way to a 14-4 win over the Beacons in eight innings. Trent Lenihan led the way with four hits and four RBIs for UBC while Kyle Anderson (Burnaby, B.C.) chipped in four hits and two runs of his own.

Despite the game becoming a blowout by the end, there were several lead changes early on.

It took just three pitches for the Beacons to grab the initial advantage. Leadoff man Eric Stacy blasted the first strike he saw from T-Birds starter Ryan Heppner (5-2) over the wall in right-centre field to give the visitors an immediate 1-0 lead.

The T-Birds answered right away. As the rain and wind picked up again at Tourmaline West Stadium, Beacons' starter Adam Sabatino (3-2) struggled to find his command. Corbeth drew another leadoff walk for UBC before Marsh was hit by a pitch. Corbeth then craftily took third on a delayed steal as Bushnell third basemen Noah Montoya crashed in toward the plate for a potential bunt. That allowed him to score on a ground out by Fitzsimmons. The 'Birds added another run on a Trent Lenihan sac fly to score Marsh, giving the home team a 2-1 lead.

Bushnell had their leadoff hitter reach again in the second thanks to a David Draayers error. However, he was quickly erased on a beautiful strike 'em out, throw 'em out double play thanks to a perfect throw to second base by T-Birds catcher Mario Ricci (Burnaby, B.C.).

UBC's hitters were back at it in their half of the second. A single by Ricci and two walks loaded the bases with one out. However, Sabatino buckled down and struck out both Marsh and Fitzsimmons to end the threat.

The T-Birds added to their lead in the third. After an error by Beacons first basemen Crist extended the inning and put runners on first and second, Kyle Anderson blooped a single into right field to cash Lenihan and build the lead to 3-1.

The Beacons offence finally came alive in fourth. A walk, wild pitch, and another walk put runners on first and third for Bushnell with two outs. Casperson then took off for second and despite the runner on third, Ricci tried to throw him out. The throw was late and off-line, which not only put the Beacons' catcher on second but allowed Jacob Richardson to score from third. Bushnell shortstop Liam Kerr then stepped up and hit a towering fly to right field that was carried by the wind just over the wall and suddenly the visitors had a 4-3 lead.

UBC tied it right back up in the bottom of the inning. With none on and two out Fitzsimmons beat out an infield single before advancing to second on a wild pitch. McGill then smacked a single to centre to score the shortstop and tie the game at four.

In the fifth, the 'Birds broke the game open. After the first two batters were retired, Anderson hit a single to centre before Corbeth doubled off the left field wall to score him. Marsh hit an infield single, then Fitzsimmons drilled a double off the wall in right-centre field to score both runners. The two-out hit parade continued with McGill grounding a single into centre to cash in Fitzsimmons. The fifth UBC hit in a row was the biggest one yet, a two-run opposite field home run by Lenihan that also had some assistance from the wind. That chased Sabatino from the game and gave the home team a big 10-4 lead.

The T-Birds added another run on a ground ball fielder's choice by Marsh in the sixth and one more in the seventh on a Lenihan double followed by a Ricci single. A bases-loaded walk by Lenihan and a sacrifice fly from Draayers in the eighth inning ended the game in a second consecutive mercy victory.

"This is what we were hoping for," said Pritchett. "We're starting to hit our stride now, just in time, now we just need to keep it going."

The T-Birds hit the road next weekend for a doubleheader at the University of Washington.