VANCOUVER - After a historic 16-1 win for the UBC Thunderbirds in game one of their Friday doubleheader, the No. 7 Lewis-Clark State Warriors returned the favour with a lopsided 12-2 win in game two in Lewiston, Idaho.
GAME 1 BOX SCORE /
GAME 2 BOX SCORE
The victory was UBC's first win over LC State since April of 2011, and the biggest margin of victory the program has ever had over the Warriors. UBC's 23 hits were also the most LC State has ever allowed in a single game.
The 'Birds sent eight men to the plate in the first inning, scoring three runs on five hits, and that seemed to get everyone primed for a big offensive day. The team went a combined 23-for-49 with only one walk in the game, led by
Brody Hawkins,
Austin Fruson, and
Jerod Bartnik. Hawkins was 5-for-6 with three RBIs, Fruson was 3-for-6 with four RBIs, and Bartnik came into the game as a pinch hitter in the fourth inning to go 2-for-4 with a pair of homers in the sixth and seventh innings, and five RBIs.
Reigning NAIA West Pitcher of the Week
Sean Callegari's performance shouldn't be forgotten under the avalanche of offensive highlights either. He had arguably an even better start against the Warriors than he did last week to win the award, again lasting seven innings and holding the conference's best offence scoreless on four hits and no walks, with six strikeouts. He improves to 5-1 on the year.
But in game two it was the Warriors' turn to break out offensively. The 'Birds still managed a more than respectable 11 hits in the game, but after scoring two runs in the second inning off a K.P. Hlatky bunt single and a bases loaded walk for
Tyson Popoff, they were held off the scoreboard the rest of the way.
The Warriors did most of their damage in a six-run third inning. By the end of the fourth, they led 10-2 and had chased UBC starter
Alex Graham from the game.
Connor Smith and
Tavis Bruce combined to throw the final four innings for the 'Birds.
Greg Densem went 3-for-4 in game two, making UBC catchers 8-for-10 on the day between him and Hawkins in game one. Popoff had two hits in game two to finish with five for the day, and
Andrew Firth had two hits in each game to finish 4-for-11.
UBC is now 24-15 overall and 18-8 in the conference. Menlo finished their regular season 19-9, so the 'Birds will be fighting for the top seed heading into the NAIA West tournament over their final two games against the Warriors.
LC State gets a bye straight to the NAIA World Series. They are now 37-12 overall this season and 21-5 in the conference.
The T-Birds and Warriors play game three of their series on Saturday at noon. The regular season finale goes on Sunday at 11 a.m.
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