SALEM, OR - It wasn't easy but the UBC Thunderbirds kept alive their winning streak on Saturday, sweeping Corban College by scores of 7-1 and 4-3 to push their early season run to 13 straight wins. UBC is now 14-1 on the season and 8-0 in conference play.
The no. 13 ranked T-Birds used a pair of late offensive outbursts to claim both games, scoring all seven of their runs in the final two innings of game one while adding a single in the top of the ninth for the win in the second contest.
"It was a grind today but we got two more wins. Corban is much improved and nothing came easy today," noted UBC head coach
Terry McKaig. "We were probably a bit lucky to get both wins today but this team has a lot of confidence right now and no matter what the circumstance we are finding ways to get it done."
Despite only getting on the scoreboard late into game one, UBC picked up 15 hits as they got solid performances from a number of players. Rookie
Blake Carruthers continued his great start to his NAIA career with a 4-for-4 performance that included a three-run homer in the ninth to put the game away.
Keaton Briscoe,
Mike Elias, and
Alex White each added a pair of hits and a combined three RBI.
Starter
Brandon Kaye threw very well, going six innings while surrendering only one run and seven hits but it was Dan Britton-Foster who got the win as he worked a perfect final three innings surrendering only two hits.
The T-Birds jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first in the second tilt thanks to a
Nic Lendvoy two-run blast. They made it 3-1 in the top of the fourth, however, the hosts tied it with a pair in the bottom of the sixth.
UBC responded in the top of the seventh with a single run and
Taylor King closed the door in the bottom of the frame after allowing Corban back into the game in the previous inning.
After opening their season with 15 games on the road, the T-Birds finally kick-off their home campaign next weekend with a pair of doubleheaders against College of Idaho at Thunderbird Park on Saturday and Sunday.
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