University of British Columbia

Weekly Update No. 7

Results

Conference

Loss 4-3 Lewis-Clark State (NAIA)

Loss 7-3 Lewis-Clark State (NAIA)

Loss 6-5 Lewis-Clark State (NAIA)

Win 6-5 (11 Inn) Lewis-Clark State (NAIA)

Overall Record: 19-14 Conference Record: 14-6 (1st)

Top Pitchers:

Jr Niall Windeler 7.2 Inn, 3 Hits, 3 Runs, 3 Earned, 3 BB, 5 Ks

Jr Barry Caine 5.1 Inn, 3 Hits, 2 Runs, 2 Earned, 4 BB, 8 Ks

Jr James Bradwell 6 Inn, 2 Hits, 0 Runs, 0 Earned, 0 BB, 5 Ks

Top hitters:

Fr Noah Or 5-15, 2 RBI, 2 R, 1 HR, 2 BB

So Jaxon Valcke 5-16, 3 RBI, 2 R, 1 BB

So Nolan Weger 6-15, 2 RBI, 2 R, 1 BB

Coaches comments

The Thunderbirds took to the road after 11 days off due to a bye week to face off against rival, Lewis-Clark State College Warriors. The Birds were riding a nine-game winning streak but were unable to extend it against the Warriors on Friday Afternoon.

Niall Windeler was strong on the mound, carrying a 2-0 lead after seven scoreless innings of work. The Warriors finally got to Windeler in the eighth, touching him up for 3 runs, a lead they would not give up. Nolan Weger and Brandon Hupe both had an RBI and Noah Or blasted a solo shot in the eighth to close the gap to one run but that’s as close as the Birds would get in the front half of the Friday double header.

In Game 2 the Warriors were able to grab an early lead off Jared Spearing and the Birds. UBC would be playing catch up the entire game and could not catch up to LC who would sweep the day, taking game two, 7-3. Noah Or continued to swing a hot bat going 2-4 with an RBI.

Freshman Garrett Hawkins got the start in Game 3, and was given an early lead. The offense jumped the Warriors for three in the first and added two in the fifth to take a 5-0 lead. Hawkins shut LC down for five innings before running into trouble in the sixth. The Warriors would climb all the way back, putting up a five spot on the Birds to tie the game. The game stayed locked up until the nine when the Warriors would complete the comeback in walk off fashion. Valcke and Penner had two RBIs each while Or added 2 more hits in the loss.

In the Sunday finale James Bradwell got the ball for the Thunderbirds and was brilliant through six scoreless innings. James left the game with a 3-0 lead while scattering only two hits, walking none, and striking out five. The three runs courtesy of a three-run shot from freshman Brandon Hupe kept the Birds in the lead until the eighth when LC would plate three of their own to knot the game up. With a tie game going into the ninth, the Warriors quickly got the first two T-Bird hitters but with two out and nobody on, Nolan Weger blasted a go ahead solo home run to left. With a one run lead heading into the bottom half of the ninth, the Birds looked to shut down the Warriors but with 2 outs, a wild pitch allowed a single run to cross as the game was now headed to extra innings.

Freshman Liam Vulcano led off the 10th with a single up the middle and after the Warriors were able to get 2 quick outs, Jaxon Valcke came up clutch with an RBI double allowing UBC to regain the lead once again. The excitement was just beginning though as the Warriors weren’t going down easy. With two outs and a runner on first, the Warriors got a clutch two out RBI double of their own to tie the game up at five. The game was extended into the 11th when freshman Ty Penner led the inning off with lined shot over the right field wall to give the Birds another one-run lead. This time the Warriors ran out of steam as Jack Caswell was able to shut the door and end a wild extra inning affair.

A thrilling series finale gave the Birds a single victory on the weekend and still sit atop the Cascade Conference.

UPCOMING:

Friday, April 12th @ 6 PM @ Corban (NAIA) Salem, OR

Saturday, April 13th @ 1 PM @ Corban (NAIA) DH Salem, OR

Sunday, April 14th @ 11 AM @ Corban (NAIA) Salem, OR