LOS ANGELES – The UBC Thunderbirds baseball team (4-7) fell 8-4 to the Cal State LA Golden Eagles (3-2) on Saturday afternoon at Reeder Field, as a three-run third inning wasn't enough to pull the 'Birds out of an early deficit on the road.
 
The Golden Eagles scored five runs on only two hits in the first inning, as Andre Gregory lined a triple down the right-field line and Anthony Ayala was hit by a pitch.
 
Sean Watkins singled to right to drive in Gregory, while Ayala took third. Ayala then scored, Watkins moved to second on a passed ball, and then Watkins took third on an errant throw. Jorge Garcia walked and Watkins scored as Nick Bereaud grounded into a double play to make it 3-0.
 
With the bases loaded, Eli Orona struck out, but reached first on a passed ball, allowing Randy Buenrostro to score and Nate Alam came around to score as well on another errant throw to make it 5-0.
 

#BASE: The @ubctbirds drop the series finale against Cal St. LA by a final score of 8-4. UBC has the day off tomorrow, and will take on the University of San Diego at 6pm on Monday night. #ubc #baseball #canadascollegeteam pic.twitter.com/b5Tla7Ze1W

— UBC Baseball (@ubc_baseball) February 18, 2018

The 'Birds got three back in the third as Lichel Hirakawa-Kao and Lucas Soper both drove in runs, while John Whaley reached home on an error.
 
Cal State LA padded their lead in the fourth when Gregory walked and later came around to score on an error, making it 6-3.
 

Justin Orton singled in a run in the fifth inning to get the T-Birds within two at 6-4, but Cal State LA got single runs in the sixth and seventh innings to put the game away.
 
Finnigan Duffield (0-1) got the start on the mound for UBC, surrendering six runs on three hits, while tossing four strikeouts in 3.2 innings of work. Brad Smith, Christian Botnick, Jack Caswell, and Tim Walters all saw time in relief.
 
The Thunderbirds will next hop over to the bay, as they will take on the San Diego Toreros (1-1) at Fowler Field in San Diego Monday, February 19.