SANTA CLARITA, Calif. – The UBC Thunderbirds put together a dramatic ninth-inning comeback to defeat the Davenport (Mich.) Panthers 4-3 in a loser out game at the NAIA Baseball National Championship Opening Round in Santa Clarita, Calif. on Wednesday afternoon.
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With the win, UBC advances to the Santa Clarita Bracket's Championship Game against San Diego Christian later today at 3 p.m. The Thunderbirds need to win today and then again tomorrow to advance to the 58th annual Avista-NAIA World Series in Lewiston, Idaho. If the 'Birds lose today, their season will be over.
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Trailing 3-2 heading into the bottom of the ninth, UBC opened the final frame with a
Tyson Popoff single that landed inside the left foul line.
Bryan Arthur followed up with a double to left field to put runners on second and third with no out.
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After a Davenport pitching change,
Jerod Bartnik was given an intentional walk to load the bases.
Tyler Enns came up to the plate and knocked a single to shallow left centre to score Popoff and tie the game 3-3.
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The bases were still loaded for
Kevin Biro, who came up to bat and was promptly plunked by Davenport hurler Ryan Butzer to give the Thunderbirds the victory.
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UBC managed to get three hits in the bottom of the ninth with its season on the line despite recording just four in the previous eight innings.
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The Thunderbirds gave up a run in the fourth and two in the fifth and trailed for nearly the entire game.
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They closed to 3-2 in the sixth when
Bruce Yari knocked the first pitch from Davenport starter Corey Sessions over the right field fence for a two-run home run, a hit that also scored
Matt Spillman, who got on base with a walk.
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Matt Thornton threw 3.2 innings of scoreless relief to earn the victory for the T-Birds. Starter
Jeremy Newton went 5.1 innings and surrendered three runs, two earned, before giving way to Thornton.
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Bruce Yari and Popoff both went 2-for-4 at the plate against Davenport. Yari had two runs batted in, while Enns and Biro had one each.
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