LEWISTON, Idaho – Despite putting up 13 hits while limiting the No. 1 ranked Lewis-Clark State Warriors (11-3, 3-1), the UBC Thunderbirds (8-12, 3-4) dropped the series finale by a 7-6 margin Sunday afternoon at Harris Field.
Trailing 7-6 with one out in the ninth inning and the bases loaded, the Thunderbirds looked like they would extend the game.
Austen Butler hit a comebacker to Warrior pitcher Joseph Riley who threw home for the second out in the inning. LC catcher Cory Voss' throw to first to complete what would be a game-ending double play sailed off of Butler and into right field. As UBC runners were coming around to tie and take the lead, home plate umpire Ryan Sorenson signaled Butler out for interference and the game was over. The umpire declared Butler was not on the baseline when hit by the throw.
That marked an end to a game in which UBC held a 4-1 lead into the sixth inning thanks to a four run fifth, all with two outs. After back-to-back strikeouts to start the inning,
Jaxon Valcke singled to right field and was able to get the 'Birds on the board when
John Whaley followed up with a double to left centre.
Anthony Olson scored Whaley with a single to left and after
Mitch Robinson reached with his second hit of the day,
Lucas Soper drove in two more with a single to left field.
LC's Riley Way bunted his way on to start the sixth, the third bunt single of the game for LC, and scored on Voss' ground out. Raymond Pedrina would then score on a wild pitch to bring the Warriors to within one at 4-3.
In the seventh, Kasey Bailey unloaded a three-run triple off the right-centrefield wall, the Warriors' only extra base hit of the game, to put LC up 6-4. The Warriors added a run in the eighth when Tyler McDowell scampered home on another wild pitch.
In the ninth UBC collected four hits off of Riley who had entered the game in the top of the inning. After Robinson's two-run double, the Thunderbirds trailed 7-6. LC elected to intentionally walk Soper to load the bases which set up the game-ending play.
Kade Woods started the game for LC and went 4.2 innings, striking out seven and walking one. Efrain Del Rio pitched 3.1 innings of middle relief and picked up his first victory as a Warrior. UBC outhit the Warriors 13-4 but stranded eight base runners.
Brad Smith started for the 'Birds and went 5.2 innings allowing three runs, two of them earned, with four strikeouts.
Braeden Allemann allowed three LC runs through an inning and a third and was tagged with the loss.
The 'Birds are back on the road next weekend making a trip to Keizer, Oregon to face the Corban Warriors for a four-game series starting Saturday, March 10.
