The University of British Columbia Athletics

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. – Jerod Bartnik's leadoff home run in the eighth inning gave the UBC Thunderbirds, the tournament's No. 5 seed, a 1-0 victory over the Vanguard University Lions in the first game of the NAIA Baseball National Championship Opening Round's Santa Clarita Bracket, hosted by The Master's College.
 
BOX SCORE



"It wasn't the best overall game. I think nerves were a big part of that," said UBC head coach Terry McKaig. "We try to talk to these guys all year about when you get to these games, the key is to make sure that it's not a bigger deal than the other ones we've played this year, so that's something where you feel really fortunate to have found a way to win a game, on a big swing from Jerod and a couple big defensive plays on bunt defence and then Brody throwing out a pair of base runners in that seventh inning. That really turned the whole momentum of the game."

Bartnik's heroics were set up by UBC's clutch defensive play in the bottom of the seventh as the Thunderbirds, who own the NAIA's second-best fielding percentage (0.975), got out of a major jam without surrendering a run.
 
Fourth-seeded Vanguard got singles in their first two at-bats of the seventh, forcing UBC starter Conor Lillis-White out of the game. Sean Callegari came in to relieve the T-Bird ace and faced Lions batter Ian Sakry. He laid down a bunt but first baseman Bruce Yari threw across the diamond to third to force out the lead runner.
 
With the next batter at the plate for Vanguard, UBC catcher Brody Hawkins took over, throwing out two consecutive Lions base runners to end the inning.
 
First, he fired a laser down to third in time to nail Justin Davis. In the same at-bat, Hawkins was on target with his throw to second to catch Sakry trying to swipe second base.
 
The T-Birds escaped the inning with the momentum, which continued into the next half inning as Bartnik nailed a 1-1 pitch over the right field fence at Pete Reese Field for his third round-tripper of the year and the only run of the game.
 
UBC starter Lillis-White gave up five hits in six innings before giving way to Callegari, who earned the victory by throwing 2.1 scoreless innings. He gave up a walk in the eighth but picked off the runner.
 
After striking out Bret Collins to open the ninth, Callegari was replaced by closer Matt Thornton. He gave up a single before striking out John Schwer for the second out. Thornton then loaded the bases by issuing a walk and hitting a batter but recovered to strike out Sakry for the final out.
 
UBC managed to win the game with just three hits. In addition to Bartnik's home run, shortstop Tyson Popoff and third baseman Nick Spillman had the others for the T-Birds, who now face top-seeded San Diego Christian in their next game today at 3 p.m.