VANCOUVER – Starting pitchers Alex Webb (Surrey, B.C.) and Curtis Taylor (Port Coquitlam, B.C.) were dominant in victories as the UBC Thunderbirds baseball team (25-12, 11-6 NAIA West) cruised to the sweep of the Simpson Red Hawks (4-32, 2-13 NAIA West) in a Saturday doubleheader in Point Grey.
 
Webb threw a complete game, three-hit masterpiece in the first game, which ended in a 6-0 win for the T-Birds. Taylor baffled the Simpson hitters and struck out eleven in six innings in the second tilt, leading UBC to the 10-2 blowout win.
 
Simpson looked liked they might hang around with UBC early in the first game as Redhawk starter Humberto Solorio repeatedly pitched out of jams causing the 'Birds to leave three runners on base early. But the Simpson batters had trouble catching up with Webb's 93 MPH fastball and couldn't capitalize.
 
The Thunderbirds got on the board in the bottom of the fourth when Mackenzie Parlow's (Qualicum Beach, B.C.) single to left cashed in Anthony Cusati (Burnaby, B.C.). Two batters later, Tyler Enns (East St. Paul, Man.) earned an RBI the hard way, as he was hit by Solorio's pitch with the bases loaded to score Vinny Martin (Pender Island, B.C.). That was all the runs the T-Birds would need as Webb was essentially unhittable the rest of the way.
 
"The goal from pitch one was just to stay aggressive," said Webb, sounding fresh for someone who had just fired fastballs for nine innings. "I have confidence if I make my pitches and attack these hitters things will go the right way."
 
UBC tacked on two more runs in the sixth and seventh innings to make the final 6-0.
 
"I think it was just a matter of time," explained UBC second baseman Anthony Olson (Edmonton), who himself contributed a hit and a run to the offence. "A hit came after another hit and once we scored a couple runs things started falling in. That's baseball."


 
In the second game of the doubleheader, UBC wasted no time in putting a crooked number on the scoreboard. Down 1-0 in the bottom of the first they belted four hits, which led to four runs. The Thunderbird rally was capped off by catcher Mike Orosz's (Vancouver) sharply hit single to left field, which scored Martin from third.
 
UBC blew the doors off the game in the bottom of the second. A series of walks, stolen bases, and a throwing error loaded the bases for centre fielder Griff Goyer (Burnaby, B.C.). Goyer drilled a double into the right field alley to score three. It was 8-1 for the Thunderbirds after two innings in the books, which was more than enough for Taylor.
 
Taylor mixed a 92 MPH fastball, with a devastating change-up over his six innings, even striking out the side in the top of the fifth. Owen Kelly (Nanaimo, B.C.) came out of the bullpen to mop up the final three innings. The final score ended 10-2 in UBC's favour, with both wins being of utmost importance according to Webb.
 
"These are huge," explained Webb. "They're almost must wins. We are three and half games back from College of Idaho and we want to host that conference tournament. If we take care of business this weekend it sets us up well."
 
The two teams are back at it Sunday, April 5 at noon for another doubleheader.