VANCOUVER – A ninth-inning run from sophomore centre fielder Griff Goyer (Burnaby, B.C.) wasn't enough to save the UBC Thunderbirds baseball team on Sunday morning, as they were bested 5-1 by the No. 1-ranked Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) Warriors at Thunderbird Park.
 
The Warriors claimed the three-game series after losing 12-1 on Friday and winning 5-2 on Saturday. 

Lewis-Clark State's J.J Robinson and Tyler McDowell accounted for two RBIs apiece, scoring a run each themselves. Jacob Zanon also had a productive day for the Warriors, notching two hits and two runs in the win. Warriors ace Connor Brogdon had a terrific outing, giving up no runs, and just four hits, while striking out seven in seven innings of work.
 
"They pitched very well today, guy was angling the ball down in the zone, mixing speeds, did good change-up work, and kept our hitters off-balance," assessed UBC head coach Chris Pritchett. "I thought we were still scrappy at the plate, but we just couldn't string anything together, score some runs."
 
For the 'Birds, second baseman Anthony Cusati (Burnaby, B.C.) was the only player to pick up more than a single hit, as the second-year player picked up two in the contest. On the mound, Connor Noble (Vancouver) went six innings, giving up four hits and three earned runs while sitting down five Warriors.
 
The Warriors got started early – in the first inning, with Zanon and Robert Smith already on base, Robinson crushed a double to right, allowing his teammates to clear the bases. Next up, McDowell notched a deep single to score Robinson, and just like that, Lewis-Clark State found themselves up 3-0.
 
The two sides resigned themselves to a defensive duel for the next seven innings, as it took until the eighth for the Warriors to add to their lead. Zanon got to second after a single and a stolen base, and then McDowell took care of the rest, doubling to right and driving Zanon home. Hayden Meier then ripped off a double of his own, bringing McDowell all the way around.
 
Leading off the bottom half of the ninth frame, Goyer stepped into a Daulton Blackwell pitch and belted it, sending it soaring over the fence for his second home run of the season. Unfortunately, that was it for the T-Birds' offence on the day, as they fall to 20-9 on the season, and 6-3 in NAIA West play. L-C State improves to 16-2 (7-2 NAIA West).
 
The 'Birds will head back south of the border next weekend, as they're set to take on the College of Idaho 'Yotes in three games over two days. Saturday, March 19 will see the two clubs start a doubleheader at 1 p.m. (PT), before they clash in a single contest at 10 a.m. (PT) on Sunday, March 20. The Warriors will host the Simpson (Calif.) Red Hawks for a four-game set, starting Friday at 5 p.m.