UBC swept in doubleheader

Kellen Bourne (Calgary, Alta.) was the top T-Bird hitter on the day with three hits, three RBI and two runs scored, including a solo home run in the second game of the day.

April 5, 2025

By Jack McGrail

UBC Communications

VANCOUVER – For just the second time this season the UBC Thunderbirds have lost two Cascade Collegiate Conference games in a row, as they were bested in both halves of their doubleheader by the College of Idaho Yotes.

Thunderbirds head coach Chris Pritchett credited the Yotes' pitchers for their strong play, as the visitors were able to do enough to keep UBC's high-powered offence in check for much of the day.

"They pitched well in both games," remarked Pritchett. "I felt we got a little frustrated and away from our game, which was a little disappointing . . . we just got beat – they made some nice plays in the second game, they hit some home runs and we didn't answer offensively."

GAME ONE

The first few innings of the opening game were a pile-up of walks and batters being hit by pitches, as the two teams combined for 13 baserunners despite having just two hits between them in the first four innings. 

Amidst the flurry of runners walking to bases and being left stranded on them, the Yotes managed the first two runs of the game in the second inning off a bases loaded walk and a sacrifice fly.

David Krahn (Langley, B.C.) finally ended the streak of hitting futility in the fifth with a solo shot to left field that stayed just fair. That long-ball kicked the 'Birds into gear as they then ripped off another six runs in the inning.

After loading the bases with one out, Kyle Yip (Calgary, Alta.) hit a double that scored two. Jackson Boomer (Vancouver, B.C.) then came in for the catcher to pinch run, a coaching decision that proved to be a great one as Boomer had the wheels to make it home on a single from Bourne. David Draayers (Abbotsford, B.C.) then doubled down the right field line, before he and Bourne were brought home by Krahn - up to bat for the second time in the frame.

That put the T-Birds up 7-2, but not for too long as while Bourne ended the top of the sixth with a nice sliding catch on a fly ball in foul territory, it wasn't before the Yotes scored another two runs to cut into the lead.

Jonny McGill (Richmond, B.C.) showed off his baserunning skills in the bottom of the eighth as he turned a single into a run scored in a single at-bat. First, he successfully stole second, then took third on the following pitch, during which a throwing error allowed McGill to get up and scamper home.

Down four runs going into the ninth, the visitors had their backs up against the wall and they certainly responded. After two walks, Torey Watkins hit a double down the left field line to get a run on the board. That began a streak of five scoring plays in a row, capped by an RBI single from Cannon Morgan that put his team in front. The game ended soon after in an upset win for the Yotes.

GAME TWO

Looking for some revenge in the second game of the day, Bourne got UBC going in the bottom of the second, smacking a double to right field that brought Kaden Zarowny (Strathmore, Alta.) home all the way from first.

Once again though, the two teams struggled overall to get some hits flowing in the early innings. Starting pitchers Ryan Beitel (Surrey, B.C.) and Dawson Cummins combined to retire 13 straight batters at one point until the Yotes' Jace Mahlke mashed a homer over the left field wall to tie up the score in the fifth inning. That was followed by a two-run home run that same inning by Chandler Stocking.

Bourne responded with a solo shot to centre field to start the bottom half of the frame, one that just barely squeaked out as it bounced on top of the wall and out over the outstretched arm of Morgan.

The power hitting continued in the seventh, when Caden Casagrande laced a line drive to left-centre that had just enough height to clear the wall and made it a two-run lead for the visitors once again. The Yotes kept the pressure on and extended their lead to 6-2 the following inning.

UBC was unlucky to not get more runs on the board in their half of the eighth, as Bourne and Krahn both hit deep balls to the warning track, but both were grabbed in strong defensive plays by Yotes outfielders.

Down to their final out of the game in the ninth, the Thunderbirds tried to get a rally going with an Aaron Marsh (Nanaimo, B.C.) single. After he reached second on a wild pitch he was brought home by Mitchell Middlemiss (Chilliwack, B.C.) who hit a single up the middle. That was all they could muster, however, as the Yotes took it 6-3.

"I expect our guys to come out and play more to what we're used to," said Pritchett on what he expects for the final game tomorrow. "Looking for some intensity from pitch one and not from later in the game when we're losing . . . this game's not easy and I expect them to come out and play their best tomorrow."

That Sunday morning meeting begins at 10:30 a.m. (P.T.). It's the final game of the four-game weekend series.