VANCOUVER – The UBC Thunderbirds' offence exploded for 12 runs on Friday afternoon as the team broke a two-game losing streak with a 12-1, seven-inning triumph over the NAIA No. 1-ranked Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) Warriors in Vancouver.

The game was the first of three at Thunderbird Park between the top squads in the NAIA West Grouping, which UBC now leads with a record of 6-1 (20-7 overall), while L-C State is now 5-2 in NAIA West play, and 14-2 overall.

The loss is the first for LC in the last six meetings with UBC and the first north of the border since an 8-2 loss on March 12, 2011. It's also the most runs LCSC has allowed to UBC since a 16-1 loss on Apr. 26, 2013.

The Thunderbirds scored more runs (12) today than they did in four games (7) against Corban last weekend.

 "Practice-wise all week, the guys were really focused on competing in those at-bats," said UBC head coach Chris Pritchett, whose team had at least a hit from all but one starter. "They fouled some pitches off today and were able to work some counts and get something they could handle. They just looked like good swings in situations where we needed to execute. They committed this week to trusting their swings and offensively, we were very good today."

UBC starting pitcher Alex Webb (Surrey, B.C.) was very good as well. He went the full seven innings, giving up just one run and four hits, while striking out seven.  He is now 7-0 on the season with a 1.19 earned-run average.

The home side opened with four first-inning runs, setting the tone for the rest of the game.

Centre fielder Griff Goyer (Burnaby, B.C.) crossed home plate when catcher Braden Allemann (Delta, B.C.) singled to right field to open the scoring. On the next play, third baseman Anthony Cusati (Burnaby, B.C.) brought home two runners – designated hitter Lucas Soper (Vancouver) and first baseman Bruce Yari (Waterloo, Ont.) – with a single to centre field to make it 3-0. Left fielder Brendan Rose (Calgary) then knocked a single to right field to plate courtesy runner Lichel Hirakawa-Kao (Vancouver)

First-year player Soper continued his great rookie season with an RBI single in the second inning to score second baseman Anthony Olson (Edmonton), knocking L-C State starter Kevin Hamann out of the game.

After the visiting Warriors posted a run in the top of the third on a Robert Smith triple to left field, the Thunderbirds replied with two more in the home half.
Rose led off with a double to right. Shortstop Kyle McComb (Surrey, B.C.) then singled to centre to score Rose. He stole second and was eventually brought home on an Olson triple.

Webb continued to shut down the Warriors, allowing just a pair of L-C State base runners after the third.

UBC posted five more runs in the sixth inning. That brought the game to a conclusion in the seventh thanks to the 10-run rule.

Right fielder John Whaley (Oakville, Ont.) hit a bases-loaded triple to centre to put the Thunderbirds ahead 10-1. He scored on a throwing error on the next play. Olson then rounded out the scoring with his second triple of the day, which plated McComb.

Soper went 3-for-4 with two runs scored to lead UBC at the plate. Olson, Cusati and Rose had two hits as well. Whaley drove in three runs, while Olson, Cusati and McComb each had two.

The teams will face off again on Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. at Thunderbird Park. 

- with files from Lewis-Clark State Sports Information