VANCOUVER – The UBC Thunderbirds baseball team scored eight runs in the first three innings to cruise to a 14-5 road victory over the University of Redlands Bulldogs on Monday.
UBC head coach
Terry McKaig called it, “our best game of the year.”
“Great hitting again and our best overall pitching performance,” he said.
With two outs in the top of the first inning,
Andrew Firth walked to start the rally.
Jeremy Kral singled to right field to put runners at first and second for
Greg Densem. The catcher didn't waste the opportunity as he doubled to right field to bring home both Firth and Kral. Two walks later, right fielder
Mike Hole, with the bases loaded, doubled and advanced to third on a throwing error. The play allowed all three T-Birds on base to cross the plate.
In the third inning, Hole came up to bat after
Tyler Enns walked and
Austin Fruson singled to right. Hole recorded his third RBI of the day by knocking a single into centre field. UBC went up 6-0 on the eventual game-winning run. It also forced Redlands to make a pitching change but the T-Birds continued the offensive onslaught, scoring twice more in the third.
Three more runs in the top of the seventh inning pushed UBC's advantage to 11-0 but Redlands replied in the bottom half with five runs of their own.
T-Birds' reliever
Connor Smith shut out the home team for the final two innings, giving up just one hit. Starter
Jeremy Newton threw five scoreless innings, giving up five hits without any walks.
It was a great day offensively for several UBC players. Densem went 3-for-5 from the plate with three runs batted in. Shortstop
Kevin Biro also got three RBI's. Designated hitter Auston Fruson got three hits, two RBI's and scored twice. First baseman
Jeremy Kral was 3-for-4 with two runs scored while third baseman
Andrew Firth added an RBI on two hits. He also scored twice. The other run batted in went to centre fielder
Sebastian Wong.
The game didn't count towards Redlands' record and 19 of the 27 players on the Bulldogs' roster saw the field today.
UBC improves to 4-3 on the season. The team's next game will be Tuesday at Vanguard in Costa Mesa, Calif.
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