CALDWELL, ID -
Bob Foerster's big day carried the no. 3 UBC Thunderbirds (36-11, 27-5) to their second straight NAIA West regular season crown.
Foerster hit a two-run home run, and cashed in three RBIs, in the T-Birds 7-4 victory over the no. 17 College of Idaho Coyotes (36-12, 26-6) in a winner take all duel for the conference regular season title and the right to host next week's NAIA West Regional Qualifying Tournament (scheduled for May 6-8 at Nat Bailey Stadium).
UBC needed just one win over their final four games against the 'Yotes in Caldwell but Idaho made it interesting, taking the first three contests of the weekend.
The T-Birds moved ahead for good in the sixth inning of game four with Foerster smacking a two-run long ball off reliever Chad Yeggy to put UBC in front 5-4.
Nic Lendvoy and
Mike Elias both tripled and scored in the seventh inning to add a pair of insurance runs for T-Bird starter
Mark Hardy.
Hardy then closed the door on a rocky weekend for the UBC starting pitching staff, throwing his second straight hitless inning for his fifth win of the season.
Over seven innings of work Hardy gave up six hits and four runs while striking out five, notching by far the 'Birds best start of the weekend.
Yotes starter Bobby Wassmann lasted four and one third innings, allowing six hits and three runs (one earned) before Yeggy got tagged with his first loss of the season after giving up three earned runs over two innings.
In the opening game of Sunday's doubleheader, UBC starter
Brandon Kaye lasted only 4.2 innings as he allowed eight hits and seven runs (six earned).
Diego Robles did most of the damage for the 'Yotes today, hitting a home run in each game on his way to a six RBI day.
The Idaho first baseman keyed the 'Yotes four-run second inning with a three-run home run which put the hosts ahead 5-1.
UBC cut the deficit to 5-3 before the 'Yotes added a pair in the fifth to move ahead 7-3 and chase Kaye.
Nic Lendvoy had a solid day at the dish for the 'Birds with a pair of hits in each contest.
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