LEWISTON, Idaho – The UBC Thunderbirds (8-11, 3-3) split a Saturday doubleheader against the No. 1 Lewis-Clark State Warriors (11-3, 2-1) at Lewiston's Harris Field.
The 'Birds earned a 5-1 win in the first half but dropped the second by a 7-3 mark and will now go for the series split with the finale scheduled for Sunday morning.
 
Three Warrior errors led to all five Thunderbird runs in the opening game. UBC loaded the bases with two outs in the fourth inning on a Warrior fielding error and capitalized with back-to-back singles to take a 3-0 lead. The Warriors lone run came in the seventh inning when Raymond Pedrina was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. UBC starting pitcher, Adam McKillican then retired the next two Warriors. 
 

#BASE: T-BIRDS WIN! @ubctbirds defeat #1 ranked Lewis-Clark Warriors by a final score of 5-1. Starting pitcher Adam McKillican was dominant, pitching 7 complete innings, and gave up only 1 earned run and 3 hits. Game 2 of the double header is underway in Lewiston #ubc #baseball pic.twitter.com/92bY11dFJI

— UBC Baseball (@ubc_baseball) March 3, 2018

UBC added its final two runs in the ninth following another Warrior fielding error.  Thunderbird catcher Anthony Cusati's two-out, two-run home run put an end to the scoring. McKillican picked up the win going seven innings allowing three hits, and striking out five.
 
Kyle Callahan collected two of the Warriors' three hits in game one that saw LC strand 12 base runners. Warrior pitcher Tyler Burch was tagged with the loss despite not allowing an earned run. Burch struck out seven and walked just one in seven innings.
 
LC came alive in game two smashing four home runs. Cory Voss led off the second inning with a solo shot, his second home run of the year, to give the Warriors an early 1-0 lead. LC upped its lead to 3-0 on a passed ball and Kasey Bailey's third inning sac fly.  The Warriors then hit home runs in three consecutive innings to pull away.
 


Callahan led off the fourth with his first home run of the year and Bailey followed with a two-run blast in the fifth, his second of the year. Makana Victorine finished off the Warrior scoring with his first home run of the year, a solo dinger in the sixth inning.  UBC added to the home run barrage with Anthony Olson and John Whaley each connecting with solo shots.
 
Bailey led LC with three RBI and Victorine had two hits for the Warriors who out hit UBC 7-4. Rian Bassett went the first six innings for LC on the mound striking out four and not walking a batter. Gage Burland finished up strong, striking out six in the last three innings to pick up his first save.

UBC starting pitcher James Bradwell was tagged with the loss allowing all seven Warriors runs, five of them earned, while striking out three through six innings. Jack Caswell and Finnigan Duffield pitched the seventh and eighth innings, respectively, both facing the minimum number of batters.

The series finale is set for 11 a.m. PT at Harris Field on Sunday.