VANCOUVER - Game one was one of the UBC Thunderbirds' better all-around games of the past few weeks, but after their 5-0 win to start the day against Oregon Tech, they fell into a 6-1 hole early in game two and couldn't quite dig their way out of it, losing 6-4 to split the doubleheader on Sunday at Thunderbird Park.
was on the mound in game one, and although he came out after six innings to save his arm for the stretch run, he looked very strong from start to finish, keeping the Owls off the board while allowing just four hits and striking out five.
"Another good outing for him," said UBC head coach
Terry McKaig. "We have to be careful a bit because his next couple starts will both be on four days rest with the quick turnaround playing at Patton this Friday and then the (regional playoff) tournament starting next Wednesday, so that had a bit to do with keeping him on a shorter leash today. But he was good and him and Dan (Britton-Foster) will be the guys anchoring those first few games at the tournament."
And with their big gun getting the job done on the mound, UBC's offensive stars were shining on Sunday as well.
Nick Senior swung the bat as well as he has in a few weeks, which earned him three extra base hits on the day. His two-run double capped off a three-run fifth inning to get the 'Birds going, and an RBI triple in the seventh helped them pad the lead before the game was turned over to
Matt Trimble on the mound.
Trimble kept the Owls quiet over the final three innings to preserve the shutout.
UBC's leading hitter
Blake Carruthers also had two hits in the game to cap off a nice return to the lineup for him, as he had missed the last two series due to injury.
"It was a lot better performance from Nick, and with Blake back in the lineup now, those are the guys that have to do some things for us in the playoffs, so a good sign today and hopefully they can build on that," said McKaig.
Game two was a different story, as the 'Birds were playing from behind right out of the gate.
Connor Smith,
Tavis Bruce and
Markus Fergusson each pitched two innings to start the game off but all were touched up for at least a run, as the Owls got out to a 6-1 lead.
The 'Birds made a game of it in the middle to late innings, as triples from
Sebastian Wong and Senior in the sixth inning turned into two more runs to make the score 6-3, and a bases loaded with none out situation in the seventh gave them a chance to complete the comeback.
Carruthers was called off the bench to pinch hit in that big spot, but the Owls' Zack Earle got him to ground into a double play. A run did score on the play but that effectively killed the rally, and 6-4 was as close as the 'Birds got.
"We started so poorly on the mound with the first three guys not being able to put up zeros, and that was the difference," said McKaig. "We were playing catch up and we had our chances, but it was one of those games where you get behind early and can't get the big hit when you need it."
One bright spot from game two was
Nathan Kirby's performance on the mound. He went another 2.1 scoreless innings in relief to complete a great bounce back weekend for himself after a tough midweek outing in Seattle.
"Kirby's kind of separating himself a bit as a guy we can really depend on. With that arm angle he uses he can throw a lot and not get tired like some of the other guys so he might be a really valuable guy in the tournament for us," McKaig said.
The T-Birds are now 17-11 in the conference and 24-16 overall. They wrap up the regular season with a road series at Patton next weekend, and then get ready for the regional playoff tournament which runs May 2-4.
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