RIVERSIDE, CA - The no. 10 ranked UBC Thunderbirds split a pair of games against no. 3 Cal Baptist to close out their nine game preseason road trip through California with a 4-5 overall record. On Saturday, UBC downed CBU 7-2 after losing 8-2 on Friday.
"This was a great way to end the trip. An outstanding team performance against one of the best schools we will play this year," said UBC head coach
Terry McKaig. "Great pitching and hitting was the key for the win. We finish the long trip at 4-5 but we are pretty excited about this group and the pitching and hitting is starting to click. Like we've said all season, it's about getting better as the season goes on and peaking during playoffs."
On the mound for UBC on Saturday was
Sheldon McDonald who put together one of the finest pitching performances of his UBC career. He allowed just one run and three hits while striking out six against a high powered CBU line-up over fine innings.
Eric Brown was equally impressive in relief, giving up three hits and a run over four innings.
At the plate,
Blake Carruthers paced the 'Birds with a 3-for-4 performance and a team-leading three RBI.
Matt Spillman also added three hits and
Nick Senior had a pair as the T-Birds totaled 13 on the afternoon. Spillman and a trio of T-Birds added one RBI each in the win.
In the loss, the T-Birds allowed a tight contest to get away from them late in the game.
"Our effort on Friday was pretty solid until the bottom of the eighth when our pitching and defence wasn't there for us. Brandon [Kaye] was very good on the mound but we couldn't get good at bats in big situations."
Kaye lasted six innings, allowing three runs while scattering 10 hits.
Sebastian Wong and
Sean Pisarski knocked in an EBI each in the top on the fourth to make it 3-2 CBU but the hosts took over with a single run in the seventh and then four in the eighth to seal the win.
The T-Birds open conference play next weekend on the road against the College of Idaho.
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