VANCOUVER – Two solid starting pitching performances combined with some big bats powered the UBC Thunderbirds (17-9, 23-19) to a doubleheader sweep over the Corban Warriors (11-11, 22-19) Saturday at Thunderbird Park.
Niall Windeler pitched a gem tying a career high nine strikeouts going seven innings strong for his fifth win of the season in an 8-2 UBC win to open up the final home series of the season.
Relief pitcher
Jack Caswell got his first ever start in the second half and picked up the win with an impressive five innings of work allowing just two runs on two hits in a 10-3 UBC victory.
"There were some at bats where guys didn't get on base but they were seven or eight pitch at bats and that took its toll after awhile," said UBC head coach
Chris Pritchett.
"Then we got into their pen and we started to put some runs up on the board. We wanted to do well in this series, if we can play well tomorrow that gives us a good chance to get into the post-season so I think that's in the back of our mind but we're just looking to have a good day tomorrow."
Game One
Warriors' starter Kris Jackson was equally as effective as Windeler in the first half of the game keeping the 'Birds off the board until the bottom of the fourth. Then with the bases loaded and one down, UBC second baseman
Anthony Olson grounded out to short but picked up the RBI scoring
Austen Butler from third.
Drawing a one-out walk in the top of the fifth, Daniel Freiburger became the Warriors' first baserunner ending Windeler's perfect game bid, but the sophomore lefty struck out his next two batters to keep the no hitter intact and the 'Birds in front.
Corban third baseman Maxwell Jeffrey earned the visitors' first hit of the game with a leadoff single up the middle in the sixth. Right fielder Ethan Bragg found a hole in shallow centre scoring the Warriors' first run, tying the game at one. With two on and one down,
Kyle McComb snagged a line drive and quickly threw back to first for the 6-3 double play to end the threat.
The 'Birds broke things open in the bottom half putting up four runs.
John Whaley loaded the bases with a four-pitch walk bringing Olson back to the plate. Butler scored on a fielding error and the 'Birds then went up by two on a
Nolan Weger groundout that scored
Jaxon Valcke. With the bases still loaded and one out,
Anthony Cusati hit a two-RBI single as the 'Birds took a 5-1 lead heading to the seventh.
Corban went to their pen for the bottom of the eighth with Mason Stottlemyre taking over for Jackson who allowed five runs, four of them earned, on six UBC hits, striking out six.
Olson got his second base hit to lead off the eighth and advanced to second on a
Kyle McComb bunt as the short stop beat the throw.
Jake Lanferman hit a one out single to restore UBC's four run lead. Things continued to get worse for Stottlemyre as Allemann scored two more runs with a single to centre.
Nick Virdo was brought in to close out the game for the 'Birds and the sophomore righty faced the minimum number of batters as the 'Birds improved to 12-2 at their new park.
Game Two
The second half of the doubleheader saw another pitching duel between Corban's Rilyn Lewchuk and Caswell as the game remained scoreless into the fourth inning.
The 'Birds managed their second hit of the game when Whaley singled to shallow centre and then proceeded to steal second with one down. After Butler flied out, catcher
Zach Prisciak singled up the middle, beat out the throw to first and scored Whaley in the process to get on the board.
The Warriors got the first hit of the game courtesy of a leadoff single by Freiburger in the top of the fifth. They got their second hit from the next batter to put runners on first and second with none down. After the 'Birds got their first out of the inning, a Caswell balk brought home the tying run. The Warriors then took their first lead of the game when Axmaker scored from third on a wild pitch.
Cusati led off the bottom of the fifth with a walk and after Lanferman fouled out, Robinson also earned a walk to put two on for Valcke. The rookie first baseman came through with a clutch single over the short stop to score Cusati and tie the game at two. Whaley then hit a double to the centre field wall scoring another run as the T-Birds re-took the lead. Robinson scored on a Butler sacrifice fly as UBC put up three runs in the inning to take a 4-2 lead.
Caswell earned his first win allowing two runs on two hits with five strikeouts. The junior thrower lasted five complete innings before senior
Brad Smith replaced him to start the sixth going three-up, three-down.
The 'Birds added another run in the bottom half with a
Mitch Robinson single to left. After 124 pitches, Lewchuk was yanked in favour of right handed reliever Jacob Bowser who lasted just a third of an inning. Lanferman scored on a wild pitch to make it 6-2. Bowser then walked Valcke and another wild pitch advanced runners to second and third. But the sophomore did strike out Whaley to end the inning.
The 'Birds plated four more runs in the seventh to take a commanding 10-2 lead and held on for the 10-3 final.
Senior third baseman
Mitch Robinson had a tremendous day at the plate going a combined 4/7 while the 'Birds put up 23 hits on the day and held the Warriors to just seven hits.
"There's a lot more in there and he's just starting to put it together and if he does heat up that's a good sign for us," added Pritchett. "Having him in the middle of the order, it's important for him to do what he can do and when he gets hot it's a lot of fun to watch."
UBC has now won three in a row and 13 of their last 15 while improving to 13-2 on home field. The 'Birds will look to lock up the series win Sunday as UBC and Corban play another doubleheader, the final two games of the season at Thunderbird Park. First pitch is set for 11:00 a.m. following a special ceremonial first pitch to commemorate the official grand opening of the new stadium.
