VANCOUVER – The UBC Thunderbirds baseball team defeated the visiting Thompson Rivers WolfPack 6-0 in both games this Sunday, closing our their home-opening weekend series with a sweep. UBC has won all six games against TRU this fall with only two runs against.
 
Overall, head coach Chris Pritchett, serving his first season with the team, has been happy with the T-Birds' success.
 
"I thought we came out and played every out like we were trying to win games," he said after the series was finished. "I think we were been able to maintain our energy level over all four games [this weekend], which is pretty impressive for this time of year."
 
UBC scored runs in seven out of the 12 innings they were at bat.
 
In Sunday's opening contest, their first two runs came in the second inning, when right fielder John Whaley (Oakville, Ont.) singled to center field. Whaley advanced to third as designated hitter Braeden Allemann (Surrey, B.C.) doubled and was able to steal home on a wild pitch. Catcher Mackenzie Parlow (Qualicum Beach, B.C.) cracked one to short stop and reached first on a fielder's choice, allowing Allemann to score for their second run of the inning.
 
The WolfPack made seven errors on the day, three in the first game and four in the second; mistakes the Thunderbirds were sure to take advantage of.
 
Defence also upheld their end of the deal, shutting out TRU.
 
"Our starting pitchers were very, very good," Coach Pritchett said. "I think they put us in really good positions to win the games. And when that's happening, our defence, they're going to be more responsive and alert. I think overall our defence did really well today."
 
Starting pitcher Connor Noble (Vancouver) threw a complete game in the opener, giving up only three hits in 24 batters faced. He had six strikeouts to help earn his second win of the season.
 
Left-handed pitcher Brad Smith (North Vancouver), who started the second game, threw a full five innings, surrendering only one hit in 18 batters faced, striking out four. The victory is his first win of the 2015-16 campaign.

Tyler Enns (Winnipeg) had three hits on the day to led all Thunderbirds players.
 
As fall ball continues at UBC, Pritchett hopes his players can keep the intensity.
 
"As we move forward now we have another few weeks of fall where we can stay together and work as a team, then it gets more individual. There's a lot of competition out here, and we're going to really work hard these next couple of weeks and make sure the guys are ready individually for what they need to work on to finish out the fall."
 
UBC's next games will be in February, when the team heads down to California for a series of non-conference matchups.