VANCOUVER – The UBC Thunderbirds salvaged a split in Redding, Calif., this week for the first four games of their non-conference tour, going 1-1 against both Simpson University and No. 10 Biola.

The 'Birds lost both games of a doubleheader on Thursday, first going down 5-3 to Simpson and then 7-2 to the NAIA 10th-ranked Biola Eagles. 

Danny Britton-Foster got the start in game one against Simpson and although he managed to keep his team in the game without his best stuff, two first-inning runs and three total over his five innings of work proved too much for the hitters to overcome. 

The 'Birds did start the game off with two runs of their own, including a solo homer from short stop Matt Spillman to start the game, but that was all the offence they could muster until a single run the ninth inning. Simpson tacked on one in the fifth and two more in the eighth off reliever Markus Fergusson, who worked the final three innings of the game.

It was another shaky start later that day against Biola, as David Otterman gave up a three-spot in the first inning. After he surrendered a fourth run in the second he managed to settle down and last five innings with no further damage, but the T-Bird bats only came up with five hits in the game.

What a difference that Thursday night's sleep seemed to make for the 'Birds though, as they came storming back the next two days to avenge both losses. On Friday they edged Biola 8-7 before exploding against Simpson to the tune of a 20-4 win on Saturday.

The T-Birds scored at least a run in the first inning of all four games, highlighted by a four-run first in round two against the Eagles. But again they were hampered by a shaky start on the mound, this time from Miles Verwheel. The third-year lefty escaped the first without damage on the scoreboard but his day was over due to a sore arm after a three-run second inning.

Reliever Nathan Kirby worked the next four innings, allowing three more runs to give Biola a 6-4 lead, but the T-Birds struck back with two runs in the fifth and two more in the seventh to go up 8-6.

Centre Fielder Blake Carruthers had a great day at the dish, going 2-3 with three RBI and what coach Terry McKaig called "one of the longest home runs in our (program's) history."

Jerod Bartnik also had two hits and three RBI. Brody Hawkins had two doubles and an RBI.

Reliever Conor Lillis-White played hero on the mound, coming in to get the 'Birds out of a jam in the eighth after Luke Webster had surrendered another run to make it an 8-7 game. Lilis-White got two outs to escape the inning with no further damage and after a leadoff walk in the ninth, he shut down the Eagles to pick up a well-earned save.

The offence really got going on UBC's final day in Redding. They took on Simpson again and were playing like a different team in all aspects.

Tavis Bruce gave the T-Birds their best start of the trip, going five innings with just four hits and two runs allowed. Matt Trimble and Alex Graham combined for the final four innings.

The offence scored in all but one inning, includuding six-spots in the fourth and sixth innings. Nick Senior and Gabe Mark both homered and had two RBI. Bartnik was 2-5 with four RBI. Andrew Firth had three hits and three RBI, and Ryan Taylor also had three hits with one RBI.

The T-Birds are 4-4 overall on the season, and will wrap up exhibition play with three games from February 21-23 against the University of Redlands, Whittier College and Chapman University. Conference play begins on March 2 at Nat Bailey Stadium against Menlo College.