VANCOUVER - After picking up five wins last weekend over Corban University, the UBC Thunderbirds will be busy again this weekend when they host Concordia Cavaliers for a four game set.
The doubleheaders, scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on Saturday and 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, are currently set for Nat Bailey Stadium. Depending on the weather in the lower mainland this week, the games may be moved to Thunderbird Park's all-weather field. Check back for an updated schedule later in the week.
A look at the Thunderbirds
UBC, who is ranked no. 9 in the latest NAIA Coaches Poll, was 5-1 last weekend against Corban. That performance improved their overall record to 21-7 on the season and they are first overall in the NAIA West north division with a 17-2 conference record. Fourteenth ranked L-C State is 20-7 overall but just 10-6 in NAIA West play, which has them second in the league standings. With College of Idaho third at 9-7, UBC has the opportunity this weekend to pad their lead before taking on L-C State and C of I to close out league play.
A major reason for the T-Birds success so far this season has been the work of their pitching staff, which ranks among the best in the NAIA with a team ERA of 2.56. Leading the way for the hurlers are a trio of senior starters in
Eric Brown,
Sheldon McDonald, and
Brandon Kaye. Brown is a gaudy 6-0 with a 1.33 ERA and 1.81 opponent batting average in a team-leading 47.1 innings of work. He's struck out 37 batters while walking only eight. McDonald, who didn't pitch last weekend with soreness in his shoulder, is 5-1 with a 1.67 ERA and .215 opponent batting average. The powerful lefty has 44 strikeouts and only five walks in 37.2 innings. Kaye is coming off a complete game, seven inning shutout against Corban and is 3-2 on the season with a 2.72 ERA.
Miles Verweel, a reliever last season, has started four times for UBC this season and is 2-1 in the first extended innings of his UBC career.
The T-Bird relievers aren't too shabby themselves with
Luke Webster owning a team low 0.93 ERA in 9.2 innings of work.
Andrew Ledger and
Shawn Hetherington have combined to work 34 innings and both sport ERAs under 3.00. The trio of
Tavis Bruce,
David Otterman, and Dan Britton-Foster also give UBC plenty of depth and talent out of the 'pen.
If there is one area that has been cause for concern for UBC, it's their recent inconsistency at the plate. Despite going 5-1 last weekend, the 'Birds were far from dominant against a thin Corban pitching staff. They did close the six game series against the Warriors with a pair of stronger performances on offence.
Blake Carruthers paces the T-Birds at the dish. After a slow start to 2011, he is hitting .321 with three home runs and a team-best 22 RBIs. Designated hitter
Kevin Nickel has 10 doubles, five home runs, and 21 RBIs and adds some much needed pop to the UBC line-up. Infielders
Keaton Briscoe and
Matt Spillman get things rolling for the 'Birds and lead the team with on-base percentages north of .430. Freshman
Sebastian Wong is also having a solid start to his UBC career with a .309 batting average to go along with 12 RBIs.
A look at the Cavaliers
Concordia sits fourth in the NAIA West north division with a 3-13 record (8-20 overall). In spite of that placing, they've notched a trio of wins against L-C State this year and lost a pair of games to UBC earlier this year by only one run.
Offence has been hard to come by for the Cavaliers this season. Standout Sean Myrom leads the way with a .338 batting average to go along with five home runs and 15 RBI. Concordia has just one other batter hitting above .300. Tommy Whalen is having a solid season, batting .286 with a team-best 18 RBIs and three home runs. His .391 on-base percentage leads all Cavaliers.
On the mound, Concordia boasts a staff with six pitchers that have started at least two games. Tyson Kisselburg, despite his 0-3 record, has been the best of the bunch with a 4.68 ERA. Larsen Kohler probably has the best overall numbers among Cavalier starters with a 4.82 ERA, 27 strikeouts, an opponent batting average of .241, and just eight walks. In limited innings, Shayne Nakata has been Concordia's top reliever with a 2.57 ERA in seven innings of work. Jon Collier has even better numbers but has appeared in only three total innings.
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