VANCOUVER - The UBC Thunderbirds lost four pitchers to pro ball from last season, but they certainly don't appear to have lost any pop from their bats, as they opened the season with two wins on Friday at the Lewis-Clark State College tournament in Lewiston, Idaho. The T-Birds earned a 9-8 comeback win over George Fox University in extra innings, followed by a 20-3 drubbing of Concordia in game two.

Fourth-year pitcher Danny Britton-Foster battled through 5.2 innings in game one, surrendering just three runs to keep his team close, George Fox got to reliever Tavis Bruce for three runs in the ninth, giving them a 7-3 lead.

But the UBC bats woke up in the bottom of the ninth, scoring four runs to tie it up and send the game to extra innings. After they gave up another run in the top of the tenth, left fielder Nick Senior connected for UBC's first home run of the year to tie the game again, and freshman second baseman Kevin Biro enjoyed a memorable debut to his college career with a walk-off RBI single later in the inning.

Two other freshmen also had strong debuts, as Jerod Bartnik went 2-5 with two RBIs from the designated hitter's slot, and catcher Brody Hawkins was 1-3 with two RBIs of his own.

Short stop Matt Spillman and Pepperdine University transfer Mike Hole both went 2-3 with a double each.

Reliever Nathan Kirby worked the tenth inning to earn the win.

Game two saw the 'Birds fall behind against NAIA West rivals Concordia 3-0 in the first inning after two errors and a three-run homer.

That was the only thing Concordia fans had to smile about all game though, as the 'Birds shut them out the rest of the way and rallied for 20 runs on 16 hits.

Hole continued his hot start by going 4-4 with 5 RBIs, including a huge three-run homer in the fourth inning to get the rally going. The T-Birds put up eight runs in the frame.

Senior also turned in another big game at the dish, going 3-5 with two doubles and an RBI. Biro had another two hits and an RBI, and Cam Firth made his first start at catcher, going 2-4 with an RBI.

David Otterman earned the win, throwing five innings of three-hit, one-run ball while striking out four. Markus Fergusson and Luke Webster combined for four innings of scoreless relief pitching.

The T-Birds take on tournament hosts Lewis-Clark State on Saturday at 4 p.m., with Miles Verwheel getting the start on the mound.