VANCOUVER -
Nic Lendvoy knocked in four runs on five hits and starters
Brandon Kaye and
Sheldon McDonald combined for 13 solid innings as the no. 4 UBC Thunderbirds (33-8, 24-2) swept the Oregon Tech Hustlin' Owls 2-1 and 11-1 at Thunderbird Park on Saturday afternoon in a battle of NAIA West division leaders.
Lendvoy produced all the T-Bird offence in game one with a pair of RBI singles in the first and sixth innings.
"We have been struggling a bit on offence and when that happens you tend to ride your seniors to try and get them going," said UBC head coach
Terry McKaig of his designated hitter. "Nic knew that we expected more out of him and his belief in himself paid off today with a solid performance."
Ryson Mauricio, the 2009 Cascade Conference Player of the Year, roped an RBI single of his own in the top of the eighth off Kaye to cut the UBC lead to one.
Taylor King replaced Kaye to start the ninth but was chased after getting just one out and allowing Oregon Tech to get runners on the corners.
Mark Hardy came in to relieve King and promptly earned the save on just two pitches. Oregon Tech's Kory Locken tried to bunt home the tying run, but the ball made its way right back to Hardy and UBC was able to retire the Owl runner who was on third in a run down.
On the following pitch, Hardy induced a game ending ground ball to third base.
Kaye was nearly spotless in the win going eight innings and striking out a season-high 11 while giving up six hits, two walks, and the lone run.
"That was a big bounce back effort for Brandon after a really bad start last weekend against L-C State," added McKaig.
Matt Bellando was solid on the mound for Oregon Tech pitching eight innings while allowing seven hits and two runs with three strikeouts.
In the second half of the doubleheader, Lendvoy capped off a six run outburst in the second inning with a two-run home run.
The hosts continued their assault in the third, cashing in three more runs to take a commanding 9-1 lead before adding a pair in the fourth.
That offensive effort spelled the end of the day for Oregon Tech starter Shea Bedortha (2.1 innings, nine hits, and eight earned runs).
McDonald, on the other hand, cruised through his five innings of work allowing just three hits and a single run.
Shawn Hetherington and
David Otterman combined to close out the win.
Bob Foerster had three RBIs and two hits with
Sammie Starr (two RBIs),
Sean Pisarski, and
Blake Carruthers each tallying a pair of hits.
With the sweep, the T-Birds maintained their three-game cushion over College of Idaho in the race for first in the NAIA West North Division and the right to host the regional playoffs. Oregon Tech has already clinched first in the South Division and a spot in the postseason.
First pitch for tomorrow's doubleheader is 11:00 a.m.
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