The Matchup

 
UBC Baseball (10-3, 0-0) begins its 2017 conference play this weekend against perennial NAIA powerhouse and defending NAIA World Series Champs, Lewis-Clark State (5-2, 0-0). First pitches at legendary Harris Field in Lewiston, Idaho go Friday, February 24 at 3:00pm, Saturday, February 25 at 12:00pm and 2:45pm, and Sunday, February 26 at 11:00am. All games from Lewiston can be heard live on Kove-Sports.com radio.

#BASE: @ubctbirds lose back to back games for the first time this season after a 7-3 loss to @williamjessup. UBC is off to @LCWarriors #ubc

— UBC Baseball (@ubc_baseball) February 23, 2017

 
The 'Birds survived torrential rainstorms in California and ended their annual trip through 'The Golden State' with a 7-3 loss to William Jessup and a 2-3 record.
 

Last Action

 
The 'Birds had a somewhat 'Jekyll and Hyde' journey through SoCal. At times their pitching was dominant, at other times their bats were explosive. There were also Innings where the pitching couldn't get the outs needed to hold leads.



UBC knows it will need to put complete games together to handle Lewis-Clark at Harris Field in Lewiston. The Warriors had a 30-3 home record last season and just finished putting 29 runs across against College of Idaho in their two game road sweep. 
 

By the Numbers

 
4 – although only 12 games into the season, UBC has four regular line-up players hovering around the .400 mark in batting average. This could be an early indication that UBC will be a dynamic offense in 2017.
 
2-0 – the record of UBC second year pitcher and Surrey native Pat van den Brink. The big right-hander has been a force so far this year and could be poised for a breakout season on the mound.
 

Players To Watch

 
Mitch Robinson – 3B – the high-powered third baseman drove in seven runs over a two game stretch during the California trip. Robinson is already looking like the candidate to replace the bat of Cincinnati Reds' prospect Bruce Yari. Yari lead the 'Birds in almost every offensive category in 2016, before being selected in the 24th round of the 2016 MLB Entry Draft.


 
Conor Noble – RHP – was a somewhat forgotten ace in the Thunderbirds staff last season, behind now professional hurlers Curtis Taylor and Alex Webb. But make no mistake, the fifth-year Vancouver native can deal. The workhorse Noble lead UBC in innings pitched last season (112.1) and could raise that total in 2017.