VANCOUVER - The UBC Thunderbirds couldn't complete the sweep against the tough Lewis Clark State Warriors on Monday, as they capped off a rain-shortened series with a 7-2 loss at Thunderbird Park after a rough start defensively and on the mound.
The Warriors scored in each of the first four innings, scratching out a 4-2 lead before breaking the game open with a three-run fourth. Gino Casini did the damage in that fourth inning with a bases-clearing double off
Andrew Ledger, UBC's third pitcher of the day.
Ledger's day ended shortly after, with less than a full inning and three runs charged to his name. The first two T-Bird pitchers didn't fare much better though, as
Brandon Kaye began the game by walking three of the first five hitters he faced and allowed two runs before coming out of the game in the second, and Miles Verwheel also lasted less than two innings while givng up two runs. Only one each of Kaye and Verwheel's runs were earned though, as UBC errors in the first and third innings proved costly.
"On the mound our first three guys didn't have anywhere near their best stuff," said UBC head coach
Terry McKaig. "Came out flat, walked a bunch of guys, and defensively we made some key mistakes in those first three innings."
After falling behind 1-0 in the top of the first, the 'Birds immediately struck back with
Kevin Nickel's RBI single in the bottom half. The Warriors then made it 2-1 in the top of the second, and again UBC replied to tie it up, this time with a
Matt Spillman RBI single.
But the Warriors began to pour it on with two more runs in the third, this time with no quick T-Bird response, and the visitors then added three more off Casini's clutch hit in the fourth to take the wind out of UBC's sails. Tyrell Poggemeyer took over for Warriors starter Tyler Barrett after he surrendered the second T-Bird run, and that marked the end of the day for the UBC offence. Poggemeyer held the T-Birds scoreless, with just five hits allowed in his 7.2 innings of work.
"In the first three or four innings we hit some balls well, but all of a sudden it seems like that 7-2 score sets in on you." said McKaig. "Poggemeyer did a good job of staying away from us and we gave him some easy outs and quick innings. Offensively you can get in a rut quickly if you don't have the right approach."
Poggemeyer got the win, while Verwheel was hit with the loss for UBC. Dan Britton-Foster,
Shawn Hetherington and
Luke Webster combined to pitch 4.1 scoreless innings in relief for the 'Birds.
The T-Birds fall to 12-6 with the loss, their first in conference play this season. The Warriors improve to 12-5.
Next up for UBC is another weekend on the road to take on Concordia. The teams will play two doubleheaders on March 19 and 20 before the 'Birds return home to take on Corban the weekend of April 1.
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