VANCOUVER – The UBC Thunderbirds baseball team is set to play its final regular season conference series this weekend against the Lewis-Clark State Warriors, beginning Friday with a doubleheader. The games will span three days down in Lewiston, Idaho, concluding with single games Saturday and Sunday as the second-place T-Birds stretch their wings against their longtime rivals who currently sit in first.
 
The program also has a chance at reaching a significant milestone this weekend, as UBC needs two victories to reach 500 as members of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Thunderbirds baseball was resurrected in 1998 and began competing in the NAIA in 2000. Since then, UBC has gone 498-281-1. When the 1998 and 1999 seasons are taken into account, the Thunderbirds, under head coach Terry McKaig, are 544-346-1.
 
After taking three out of four games last weekend against Corban at Thunderbird Park, UBC is now 35-12 on the season and 18-6 in NAIA West Grouping play. Lewis-Clark State are 36-10 overall and 20-4 in conference. Most recently, they were ranked No. 13 on the NAIA Coaches' Top-25 Poll.
 
"This weekend will be our biggest test," McKaig said. "Lewis-Clark State are the best team in the conference and playing them right now, at the end of the season, is a good time to. Given their record and rating, this series will be a good way for us to start the playoffs here this weekend. They're the kind of team we'll face in the post-season, so it'll be a good opportunity for us to see if we can turn it on and start building momentum."
 
Expect Conor Lillis-White (Toronto), Jeremy Newton (Toront.) and Muscle MLK Athlete of the Week Alex Webb (Surrey, B.C.) to start. They have an average ERA of 2.54. Game 4's starting pitcher is still undecided as Alex Graham (North Vancouver, B.C.) works through an injury in the bullpen. Last week, he demonstrated his ability to not only start games but also close them, securing a win after 3.2 innings pitched, ending Game 4 with the 'W' and improving his record to 6-1.
 
With relief pitcher Curtis Taylor (Port Coquitlam, B.C.) leading the way— he has the most saves in the league with 10—the T-Birds can look to the bullpen to help take on some of the big bats the Warriors host.
 
Cabe Reiten boasts a .414 batting average and Seth Brown has cranked out 20 home runs and ushered in 64 RBIs in 46 games played. Last weekend they outscored Simpson 60-4.
 
"They lead all of college baseball—no matter the level—in home runs with 78," McKaig said. "But they bring out the best in us. They've been our main rival for many, many years and facing them now is just a really great way for us to start the playoffs this weekend."
 
UBC has some heavy hitters as well, but consistency, like every weekend, will be key in this series. Spanning over three days, the 'Birds will have to make sure their bats come in hot and stay hot to compete.
 
First baseman Bruce Yari (Waterloo, Ont.) leads the UBC offence with a .361 batting average and 38 RBI. Outfielder Brendan Rose (Calgary) is second with a .352 average.
 
Throughout the season, majority of the T-Birds' runs have come in the fourth, fifth, sixth and ninth innings; out of a total of 257 innings played thus far in the season, 143 runs were scored in those later frames (34 in the fourth, 30 in the fifth, 48 in the sixth, and 31 in the ninth). However, those are the innings they also allow the most runs against them (21, 31, 18, and 21, respectively). Every player will have to pull his weight this weekend to end the regular season on a high.
 
As the regular season winds down, it's time for the 'Birds to step up.
 
"These last four games will really be a test for us," McKaig emphasized. "If we turn it into a great positive we can carry that momentum into the playoffs with us."
 
First pitch of the final regular season series is slated for Friday at 3 p.m. PST, with the rematch immediately following. Game 3 will take place on Saturday at 1 p.m., and Game 4 will close the series on Sunday at 11 a.m.