REDLANDS - After a string of close games, the no. 13 UBC Thunderbirds picked up a huge 20-3 victory over the University of Redlands on Monday to improve to 5-1 on the season. That win pushed their early season winning streak to four games as they also took down Concordia-Irvine 8-6 on Sunday.
On Monday, the T-Birds completely dismantled the NCAA Division III Bulldogs who had been 6-2 on the season heading into the game.
UBC piled up 26 hits and 20 runs, both season highs, and took advantage of five Redlands errors to put the game away in the fifth and sixth innings.
The T-Birds led 4-0 through two innings, however, the Bulldogs got two back in the bottom of the third off UBC starter
Danny Britton-Foster.
It was the only blemish on an otherwise solid performance from the sophomore hurler who went five innings, giving up seven hits while striking out seven.
The visiting 'Birds exploded for five runs in the top of the fifth and then put up 10 in the sixth to seal the win.
Freshmen
Keaton Briscoe (4-6, two RBI),
Andrew Firth (4-5, two RBI), and
Blake Carruthers (3-4, four runs, four RBI, one SB) had huge days for the T-Birds.
Mike Elias (4-7, three runs, two RBI) also had a good day swinging the bat.
Mark Hardy and
Miles Verweel cleaned up the last four innings on the mound, striking out a combined seven while Verweel gave up just two hits and one run with Hardy proving unhittable.
In Sunday's 8-6 win over Concordia-Irvine, UBC used a late surge over four innings to take control of a back and forth affair.
Down 3-2 through three innings, UBC took a 6-3 lead into the bottom of the seven. Concordia-Irvine responded with a pair in the bottom of the inning to get within one, but a pair of errors by the hosts in the eighth allowed UBC to pick up a pair of insurance runs.
Concordia-Irvine cashed in a run off UBC closer
Shawn Hetherington in the bottom of the ninth, but it wasn't enough as the third year got the save.
Newcomer
Sheldon McDonald got the win, going six innings giving up three hits and three runs (one earned).
Alex White and Carruthers led the offensive effort, smashing two of UBC's three home runs on the day while combining for four hits.
UBC closes their pre-season scheduled on Tuesday with a game against Whittier College.
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