VANCOUVER – The UBC Thunderbirds (28-14, 18-11) dropped a pair of games in Caldwell, Idaho to open up the final weekend of the regular season against the College of Idaho 'Yotes (21-25, 14-15) Friday afternoon at Wolfe Field.
The day began with the completion of a suspended game dating back to March 26th in Vancouver, the series finale between the 'Yotes and 'Birds that had UBC up 4-3 through four innings of play before heavy rain forced a stoppage. The delay sapped the T-Birds' momentum as they suffered an eventual 9-7 loss before dropping a 6-3 decision in the first game of the scheduled series.
"They just came out more ready than we did today," said UBC head coach
Chris Pritchett.
"I felt like our at bats were really good at the end of the game, we showed some desperation to get back into it. But before that it looked like we were just hoping something would go our way rather than make it happen. I thought we played on our heels the whole day."
The 'Yotes tied the suspended game in the top of the fifth and then put up a whopping five runs in the sixth to break out to a 9-4 lead. UBC got one run back in the bottom of the seventh and scored two more in the ninth to get within two but couldn't close the gap any further dropping their first game of the season to the 'Yotes.
Connor Noble was also tagged with his first loss of the year allowing six runs, five of them earned, on nine hits through the final five innings.
Adam McKillican had pitched the four innings that started the game in Vancouver.
The official series opener later Friday afternoon saw the 'Yotes pick up where they left off earlier in the day staking themselves to a 3-0 lead after two innings, all runs coming in the bottom of the second.
UBC finally got on the board in the top of the seventh.
Vinny Martin hit a lead-off single and advanced to second thanks to a 'Yotes fielding error that also allowed
Mitch Robinson to get to first. With both runners advancing on the next at-bat, Martin then scored on a ground out RBI by catcher
Mackenzie Parlow.
Unfortunately for the 'Birds, College of Idaho got their three-run lead back and then some in the bottom half of the inning.
Brad Smith entered the game for the 'Birds relieving starter
Niall Windeler who allowed three runs on nine hits through six innings of work. Smith got his first batter to strike out but then Cole Mansanarez hit a solo home run down the right field line. The 'Yotes added another run to give themselves a four-run lead heading to the eighth.
Anthony Martine continued his dominance on the mound for the 'Yotes going three-up, three-down to keep the home side in front.
C of I padded their lead by yet another run in the bottom of the eighth as the 'Birds had their work cut out for them down by five and down to their final three outs.
The 'Birds mounted a rally and with two down cut the 'Yotes' lead to three when
John Whaley singled with the bases loaded driving in a pair of runs. But closing pitcher Miles Bigelow got
Anthony Cusati to strike out to secure the 'Yotes' second win of the afternoon.
The T-Birds have now dropped four in a row but have a chance to get back on track Saturday with a double header.
"We got to find that thing that makes us tick and we need to find it soon but I'm sure we will," added Pritchett.
"I think the guys realize they need to be ready from the opening pitch. We have to start better tomorrow and respond again on Sunday to get us ready to go next weekend for the conference tournament."
First pitch is set for 12:00 p.m. PT with the second half scheduled for 2:45 p.m. PT, both at Wolfe Field in Caldwell.
