UBC edged by NCAA's Seattle Redhawks
The UBC Thunderbirds were defeated 8-7 by the NCAA Div. I Seattle Redhawks on Thursday. Photo: UBC Athletics
April 1, 2025
By Jake McGrail
UBC Communications
SEATTLE, Wash. – The high-flying UBC Thunderbirds were handed a stiff nonconference test in the form of a road game against NCAA Division I squad the Seattle Redhawks on Tuesday.
In the first meeting between the two sides since 2023, the 'Birds more than held their own and came up just short in the end, falling 8-7.
Jonny McGill (Richmond, B.C.) was the standout batter of the day, going 4-for-5 with three RBIs and two runs scored including a homer in the ninth inning. Aaron Marsh (Nanaimo, B.C.) and Kyle Yip (Calgary, Alta.) both recorded multiple hits as well, as the Thunderbirds narrowly edged the Redhawks in that category (11 hits to 10).
With the game coming just three days after a four-game series against Warner Pacific in Cascade Collegiate Conference play – and just three days before another four-game conference series against College of Idaho – Thunderbirds head coach Chris Pritchett made sure to keep the arms of his pitchers as fresh as possible. Six different T-Birds took to the mound and none of them threw more than 35 pitches.
The trio of James Brock (Burnaby, B.C.), Adam Khan (Aurora, Ont.) and Dylan Myttenar (Vancouver, B.C.) were lights out through the first three innings, as the UBC pitchers didn't allow a single hit or walk between them. Yip scored the first run of the game in the second, coming home on a fielder's choice off the bat of David Draayers (Abbotsford, B.C.).
The Redhawks finally got on the board with three runs in the fourth, before the 'Birds answered right back the following inning. Trent Lenihan (White Rock, B.C.) followed a McGill RBI single with an RBI double of his own, and the two teams fought back and forth from there.
A solo home run from Marsh put UBC up 5-4 in the top of the eighth, but that lead was short-lived as the Redhawks again came through with a big inning in the bottom half of the frame, scoring four runs.
Down 8-5 going into the ninth, the T-Birds knew they needed a big-time comeback. With one man on and two outs, McGill kept hope alive with a homer to right field. Unfortunately, the game ended on the next at-bat and the 'Birds came up just short for just their second loss since March 1.
The Thunderbirds now return home after nine straight games on the road and prepare for an important homestand against the College of Idaho Yotes this weekend. The conference foes will play one game on Friday, April 4, two on Saturday, April 5, and one more on Sunday, April 6, all at Tourmaline West Stadium