Mesa, Ariz. – After dropping their opening game at the California Pacific Conference Championship earlier Sunday, the UBC Thunderbirds broke a 7-7 tie with two runs in the ninth Sunday evening to defeat the Marymount California Mariners 9-7, advancing to a second straight elimination game on Monday.
The 'Birds will now face a familiar foe in the Corban Warriors with a chance to continue their chase for a berth in the championship final while the Mariners' season is now over having lost their opening game to Corban in the double knockout tournament.
After seeing a six-run lead disappear, the 'Birds plated two more in the top of the ninth when
Justin Orton hit a bases loaded sacrifice fly to score
John Whaley for the go-ahead run. A bases loaded walk then restored UBC's two-run lead before the Mariners got to their half of the inning with their season in the balance.
Marymount loaded the bases with one down but a pair of Pat van den Brink strikeouts ended the game, keeping the 'Birds' season alive.
Up 2-1 heading into the fourth inning, the 'Birds broke the game open with three runs on just two hits, taking advantage of a pair of Ryan Barbarin walks.
Jake Lanferman earned an RBI on a fielders choice that saw Orton score from third giving the 'Birds a two run lead.
After
Lucas Soper loaded the bases with a one-out walk,
Mitch Robinson hit a sacrifice fly to left plating
Kyle McComb.
Braeden Allemann followed up with a double to right scoring another UBC run as the T-Birds held a 5-1 advantage.
The 'Birds capitalized on defensive issues by the Mariners in the sixth to put another two runs on the board. A fielding error allowed Lanferman to reach safely. He was promptly moved into scoring position when Soper was hit by a pitch. Robinson stepped up to the plate and hammered a triple down the right field line for his third and fourth RBI of the game.
The Mariners managed to get right back in it with four runs in their half thanks to a pair of two-RBI singles from Andrew Wilson and Randy Rubio. The 'Birds went back to the pen bringing out Finnegan Duffield to replace Christian Botnik who had entered the game in the third after
Jack Caswell pitched the first and second. Duffield was able to get the T-Birds out of the sixth still ahead, 7-5, with an inning ending double play.
Marymount's surge continued in the eighth and the Mariners completed the comeback scoring twice, both with two down, tying the game at seven apiece heading to the ninth where the T-Birds came through in the clutch to keep their tournament alive.
With the 'Birds now focussed on facing the Warriors Monday afternoon, both teams' respective seasons are on the line after Corban dropped their second game of the tournament to number one seed Antelope Valley.
UBC and Corban split their season series with each team going 4-4. First pitch is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. PT at Mesa's Hohokam Stadium.
