UBC sweeps Oregon Tech thanks to Bradwell, Caine, Maier, Penner, Sanderson

Former Vauxhall Jets’ RHP Garrett Hawkins (Biggar, Sask.) gained the win for the University of British Columbia against Oregon Tech.. He pitched six innings allowing three runs on seven hits and a walk, while striking out 10. Photo: Wilson Wong.

University of British Columbia Thunderbirds

Weekly Update #4

Results: Conference Play

Win 10-3 Oregon Tech (NAIA)

Win 3-2 (10 Inn) Oregon Tech (NAIA)

Win 11-4 Oregon Tech (NAIA)

Win 6-1 Oregon Tech (NAIA)

Overall Record: 10-6 Conference Record: 6-2

TOP PITCHERS:

Jr Jared Spearing 5.2 Inn, 3 Hits, 1 Run, 1 Earned, 7 Ks, 3BB

Fr Adam Maier 5 Inn, 5 Hits, 4 Runs, 3 Earned, 8 Ks, 2 BB (1 Win)

So Garrett Hawkins 6 Inn, 7 Hits, 3 Runs, 3 Earned, 10 Ks, 1 BB (1 Win)

Sr Barry Caine 7 Inn, 5 Hits, 1 Run, 1 Earned, 11 Ks, 1 BB (1 Win)

Sr James Bradwell 4.1 Inn, 1 Hit, 1 Run, 1 Earned, 3 Ks, 0 BB (1 Win)

Jr Finn Duffield 4 Inn, 0 Hits, 0 Runs, 5 Ks, 1 BB (1 Save)

TOP HITTERS:

So Ty Penner 8-for-16, 6 RBI, 4 Runs, 3 BB

Fr Cam Sanderson 6-for-14, 5 RBI, 5 Runs, 3 BB, 5 SB

Fr Ryan Beitel 5-for-16, 7 RBI, 1 BB, 1 SB

So Noah Or 4-for-11, 1 RBI, 4 Runs, 3 BB

Fr Adam Maier 5-for-13, 4 RBI, 5 Runs, 1 BB

COMMENTS:

The Thunderbirds opened up at home with a pair of double header sweeps to take four games from the Oregon Tech Owls this at Tourmaline West Stadium. The Birds started hot and continued the good play throughout. Game 1 saw the T Birds offence send 10 batters to the plate in the bottom of the first plating five runs to take an early lead. UBC added three more in the second and two more late to give starter Garrett Hawkins more than enough in the comfortable 10-3 victory. Hawkins earned his third win of the year after six innings of work allowing three runs while fanning 11 batters. Offensively, SS Cam Sanderson led the way with three hits, scoring three as both Adam Maier and Ty Penner chipped in with two hits and two RBIs apiece.

Game 2 was a much closer matchup with pitching taking the forefront for both teams. Jared Spearing got the start going 5 2/3 allowing only one run. James Bradwell came into the game in relief, working the last 4 1/3, allowing one run on one hit. The Owls took a 2-1 lead in the top of the eighth only to be answered in the bottom half thanks to an RBI single by Ty Penner. The game stayed locked until the bottom half of the 10th. With runners on first and second and two outs, the stage was set for freshman, Ryan Beitel who took the first pitch he saw into the left-centre gap to give the Birds the walk-off win.

Sunday was a more consistent day for the Birds both at the plate and in the field. Off to a strong start again, the offense put five runs on the board in the first inning of game one to set the tone. Freshman Adam Maier battled through five innings, allowing three earned runs and fanning eight to earn the win. Behind Maier, Finn Duffield was dominant in the relief role pitching four innings without allowing a hit and striking out five. The offence was paced by Ty Penner who drove in three runs and Cam Sanderson with four RB1s on the day. UBC would take Game 1, 11- 4.

In the finale, UBC completed the sweep against Oregon Tech thanks in part to Barry Caine’s best outing of the year. The bats delivered in the first once again as UBC jumped out to an early 3-0 lead which was more than enough for the senior starter. Caine went seven strong, allowing one run, walking one, and striking out 11 batters to lead the Birds in the 6-1 victory.

The Thunderbirds will head to Keizer, Ore. to battle the Corban Warriors in their next series of conference play.

UPCOMING:

Friday, March 6 Corban @ 6 PM Keizer, Or

Saturday, March 7 Corban @ 1 PM DH Keizer, Or

Sunday, March 8 Corban @ 11 AM Keizer, Or

Weekly Update #3

RESULTS:

Loss 9-6 Lewis-Clark State (NAIA)

Win 17-4 (7 Inn) Lewis-Clark State (NAIA)

Win 9-5 Lewis-Clark State (NAIA)

Loss 15-7 Lewis-Clark State (NAIA)

Overall Record: 6-6 Conference Record: 2-2

TOP PITCHERS:

Jr Jared Spearing 6 Inn, 7 Hits, 4 Runs, 4 Earned, 2 Ks, 3BB (Win)

Fr Adam Maier 5 Inn, 3 Hits, 1 Run, 5 Ks, 1 BB, (1 Win)

So Brett Corbeth 1 Inn, 1 Hit, 0 Runs, 1 K, 0 BB

Former iCase Husky Jaxson Valcke (St. Marys, Ont.) had an eight-hit weekend.

TOP HITTERS:

So Brett Corbeth 6-for-15, 4 RBI, 4 Runs, 4 BB, 1 SB

Jr Jaxon Valcke 8-for-16, 4 RBI, 6 Runs, 1 BB

Sr Jake Lanferman 7-for-17, 3 RBI, 7 Runs, 3 BB, 2 SB, 1 HR

So Mike Fitzsimmons 6-for-14, 4 RBI, 4 Runs, 2 BB, 1 SB

Sr Austen Butler 4-for-16, 4 RBI, 3 Runs, 2 HR

So Ty Penner 5-for-14, 6 RBI, 5 Runs, 4 BB, 1 HR

COMMENTS:

The Thunderbirds began conference play this weekend against #19 ranked Lewis-Clark State, in Lewiston, Id. It was clear from Game 1 that both teams would be displaying their offensive abilities in a series that saw a total of 72 men cross home plate in 4 games.

Garrett Hawkins battled through five innings of work but suffered his first loss of the season as the Warriors got to the UBC ace in three of his five innings. The Birds trailed 8-2 in the seventh when they received life from a three-run shot by Austen Butler to cut the lead to three. LC State was able to get one run back in the bottom half of the frame as the UBC comeback came up short. Outhitting the Warriors 12-11 the Birds still fell 9-6 in game 1.

The Thunderbirds came back Saturday morning with a vengeance to sweep the Warriors in the double header. The T-Bird offence used an 11-run third to cruise to a 17-4 win in the shortened seven-inning game. Jared Spearing got the win as UBC got contributions up and down the order. Seven different hitters recorded a multi-hit game while another seven recorded at least one RBI in the blow out.

The Birds started Game 2 where they left off in Game 1, putting a seven spot on the board in the top of the first. The Warriors, however promptly put two runs up in each of the first two innings. Freshman Adam Maier came into the game to slow the LC bats down. Maier went five innings allowing only one run in relief to hold off the Warriors en route to a 9-5 victory. Lanferman and Valcke had three hits apiece to pace the UBC offence in the back end of the Saturday double header.

With a chance to take the series on Sunday, the Birds sent James Bradwell to the mound. Before he could even step on the field, Jake Lanferman led the game off with a solo shot on the first pitch of the game, while the offence proceeded to add two to give the Birds a 3-0 lead. Bradwell was able to hold the Warriors off the board for the first two innings, but was unable to keep their offence down in the middle innings. LC put up a total of 10 runs in the third, fourth and fifth to take a lead that they would not relinquish. An offence heavy weekend ended with another big score, this time in favour of the Warriors as both teams settle for a series split after the 15-7 LC win.

The Birds continue to battle the injury bug as Junior 3B Nolan Weger left Sunday’s game with a dislocated shoulder, and will be out indefinitely.