LEWISTON, ID - After seeing a chance at victory slip away in the front end of a doubleheader against #6 ranked LC State, the #13 UBC Thunderbirds couldn't rebound in the second half of the duel as they dropped a pair of decisions to the Warriors 8-7 and 8-1 Saturday in Lewiston, ID.
It was a missed opportunity in game one, as the T-Birds drew level in the top of the eighth, knotting the score at 7-7 with a pair of runs only to allow LC State to pull back in front for the win.
The Warriors responded with a single in the bottom of the frame to re-take the lead and then UBC left a pair of runners stranded in the ninth inning with all three of their outs coming by way of strikeouts.
"It was a really competitive first game but we just couldn't seem to make the big plays when we needed them," said UBC head coach
Terry McKaig. "We didn't get it done on the mound late in the game and then a pair of defensive miscues allowed them to get back in front. Our at-bats in the ninth weren't great but that said, they are a very good team with a big time offence."
Rookie
Andrew Firth led the T-Birds with a 3-of-4 performance at the plate that included one RBI. DH
Nic Lendvoy added a pair of hits and runners batted in while
Christian Jolley had a two-hit game with one RBI.
Eric Brown went 4 1/3 innings in the start giving up six runs and eight hits but it was
Shawn Hetherington who took the loss as he gave up one run on a pair of hits in the bottom of the eighth.
In the second game it was all Warriors as they jumped out to a 4-1 lead in the bottom of the fourth before sealing the win with a four run outburst in the eighth.
Firth and fellow rookie
Keaton Briscoe were the only T-Birds with multi-hit performances, both finishing with a pair, as LC State out hit UBC 14-9.
Sheldon McDonald was solid on the mound going seven innings giving up four runs while
Andrew Ledger gave up four runs in one inning of work.
UBC is now 20-5 on the season while LC State improves to 23-2.
The two teams meet again Sunday for a single affair. First pitch is a 12:00 p.m.
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