BELLEVUE, WA - It won't go down as a textbook save but
Shawn Hetherington got the job done for the NAIA no. 6 ranked UBC Thunderbirds (26-6) as they held on to defeat the NCAA Division I Seattle University Redhawks by a score of 2-1 Tuesday night in Bellevue, WA.
A gem of an effort by five other T-Bird hurlers had UBC in front by one run heading into the final half inning and Hetherington was called on to close the door on an evening when the UBC offence never got going.
Riley Thompkins got the hosts off to a very good start in the ninth, however, doubling to left-centre to put the tying run in scoring position. He almost tied the game when Nate Roberts singled up the middle but was held at third to give the Redhawks runners at the corners.
Hetherington then proceeded to give a free pass to pinch hitter Alex Kuniyoshi to load the bases, putting the visiting 'Birds in real jeopardy of giving away a game in which they had never trailed.
Just when momentum had firmly swung in the Redhawks direction, the T-Birds gained it all back as Mike Malland lined out to T-Bird third baseman
Andrew Firth who was then able to double up the SU runner at his base.
Hetherington finished off what turned out to be a wild finish against the next batter, striking out Bryndon Ecklund to preserve the UBC win and tally his fifth save of the season.
Sheldon McDonald was the recipient of that win, working one shutout inning.
Eric Brown, who got the start, was extremely impressive as he struck out four of the seven batters he faced over two innings.
Miles Verweel gave up the lone run while
Taylor King was solid over 2 and 2/3 innings, surrendering one hit and striking out two.
Redhawks starter Arlo Evasick shut down the T-Birds for the most part, going 7 and 2/3 innings giving up five hits while striking out five.
After three scoreless innings, the T-Birds finally blemished Evasick's effort. With
Nic Lendvoy on first, Evasick plunked
Blake Carruthers to put two runners on. A wild pitch allowed both runners to advance and then a single by
Sean Pisarski and a ground out by
Alex White each cashed in a run.
Lendvoy tallied two of UBC's five hits with Pisarki, White, and catcher
Greg Densem all notching one.
The Redhawks made it 2-1 in the bottom of the sixth after Verweel hit the first SU batter he faced and then advanced him with a balk. A single and a sacrifice fly brought in the home side's lone tally. King came into relieve Verweel and got the T-Birds out of the inning.
UBC returns home to face the Concordia Cavaliers in a pair of conference doubleheaders this weekend at Thunderbird Park. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on Saturday and 11:00 a.m. on Sunday.
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