For the second time in three years, the UBC Thunderbirds are headed to the NAIA Baseball National Championship Opening Round which starts Monday, May 14. The 'Birds are part of the Lincoln Bracket as the number five seed and will open up play against the fourth seeded Judson (Ill.) Eagles at McBean Park in Lincoln, California.
The five-team, double knockout tournament champion will advance to the 2018 Avista-NAIA Baseball World Series hosted by Lewis-Clark State for the 19
th straight year May 25 to June 1.
UBC punched their ticket to the opening round by advancing to the Cal Pac conference final last weekend against the eventual winners, the Antelope Valley Pioneers, who are also in the Lincoln bracket as the number two seed.
Should the 'Birds beat the Eagles in Monday's opening game, they'll move on to face the number one seed and host William Jessup Warriors.
First pitch Monday against Judson is set for 9:00 a.m. PT.
Last Action
UBC dropped their opening game at last weekend's conference championship but won three straight to advance to the final where they lost 16-3 to Antelope Valley. The 'Birds earned an 8-6 semi-final win over Benedictine-Mesa which clinched a berth to the opening round.
By the Numbers
9.8 – The 'Birds averaged 9.8 hits per game at the Cal Pac conference championship, higher than their regular season rate of 9.36.
8.56 – UBC's pitchers are averaging 8.56 strikeouts per game, the highest rate in the conference and ninth best in all of NAIA.
Players to Watch
Lucas Soper (#11, OF) – The junior outfielder had a solid performance at the conference championship going a combined 7-for-16 with four runs scored, two RBI, a home run and two walks. Soper has bumped up his batting average to .328
Mitch Robinson (#44, 3B/OF) – The senior slugger is working on a team leading .354 batting average after combining for eight hits and nine RBI with four extra base hits during the Cal Pac tournament.
Coach's Take
The T-Birds took the tougher route to the conference championship game having dropped their tournament opener. While doing the same this time around wouldn't be devastating, UBC head coach
Chris Pritchett says they're treating Monday's game as the most important of the week.
"It's not going to be one guy having a good tournament, it's 25 guys stepping up and being their best, that's the only way we're going to get this done," said Pritchett. "We can play with anyone in the country at any level if we play our best game, but that's what we're going to have to bring to this tournament in order to get to the World Series."
Only the bracket winner will advance to Lewiston, Idaho for the World Series and there's no doubt the 'Birds all know the approach they need to take.
"We had a really successful tournament to be able to qualify and I'm just really proud of the effort from all 25 guys and coaches and trainers that went down there, it was an incredible effort," said Pritchett of the success at the Cal Pac championship. "But we also all looked at it and said if we want to move to the World Series we can't come in second. Knowing how hard and tough that was just to get to the championship game reminds us what parts we could have been more efficient at."
