PORTLAND, OR - The UBC Thunderbirds ran their NAIA West conference leading record to 12-1 with a pair of victories over the Concordia Cavaliers on Sunday. UBC defeated their hosts 8-4 and 4-3 to wrap up a four-game weekend sweep.
"We got it done today and finished off a good weekend. It wasn't the prettiest I've seen but anytime you sweep four on the road, it's a job well done," said UBC head coach
Terry McKaig.
The T-Birds, who are currently ranked tenth in the NAIA Top 25, improved to 16-6 overall with their lone loss in conference play coming at the hands of no. 4 Lewis-Clark State.
In Sunday's opening game, the 'Birds scored early and often, pulling too far in front as the Cavaliers comeback effort stalled late in the game.
With two outs in the first inning,
Blake Carruthers got UBC on the board with an RBI single. Some heads up base running, combined with a wild pitch, allowed the 'Birds to take on a second run in the frame.
UBC was opportunistic again in the second inning, loading the bases with one out after a single and two walks.
Andrew Firth went down swinging in the 'Birds next at-bat but an error by the Cavaliers catcher on the play allowed two UBC base runners to cash in.
The fifth inning saw UBC add three more runs with a
Nick Senior pinch hit double with the bases loaded cashing in two of those scores.
Down 8-0, the Cavaliers answered with three runs in the bottom of the sixth and one in the ninth to round out the scoring.
Brandon Kaye earned the win, going six innings and giving up three runs and five hits while striking out four.
Danny Britton-Foster got the extended save with three innings of work.
It was a much tighter affair in the second contest of the doubleheader, with the team's exchanging single runs throughout the seven inning contest.
UBC led 3-2 heading into the seventh. Sean Pisarki laced a triple down the left field line with one out to get himself in prime scoring position for the 'Birds and pinch hitter
Andrew Firth delivered, laying down a perfect bunt for the suicide squeeze to cash in the insurance run.
It was a valuable run as the Cavaliers clawed one back in the bottom of the seventh. With runners on first and third and no ounce,
Shawn Hetherington came into the game for reliever
Andrew Ledger and induced a double play which scored just one run. He then ended the game with a strikeout to preserve the win for starter
Miles Verweel. Verweel went six innings, allowing four hits and two runs.
At the dish,
Andrew Madsen was the lone T-Bird with a pair of hits. Nickel,
Matt Spillman, and
Keaton Briscoe added RBIs for UBC.
The T-Birds are off next weekend before starting a 10-game homestead the following weekend with six games against Corban College.
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