Mesa, Ariz. – The UBC Thunderbirds got their redemption against the host Benedictine-Mesa Redhawks with a 8-6 semi-final win Monday night at Hohokam Stadium to earn a berth in the Cal Pac Conference Championship final against the number one seed Antelope Valley Pioneers.

The win also clinches a spot at the upcoming NAIA National Championship opening round for the second time in three years.

Mitch Robinson started a mammoth four-run first inning for the 'Birds with a sacrifice fly to get UBC on the board. A John Whaley RBI single doubled the T-Birds' lead before Jaxon Valcke hammered a two-run homer over the right field wall.

#BASE: BIRDS WIN!!! UBC hang on to defeat Benedictine-Mesa University by a final score of 8-6! The @ubctbirds have clinched a berth into the opening round of the @NAIA World Series! They will play Antelope Valley tomorrow at 11am in the Cal Pac Conference Championship #ubc pic.twitter.com/DuiVBMSqBH

— UBC Baseball (@ubc_baseball) May 8, 2018

Robinson earned his second RBI of the game with a leadoff solo home run in the third to give the 'Birds a 5-0 lead.

Adam McKillican had a perfect first two innings on the mound for UBC but got into trouble in the bottom of the third. The Redhawks scored twice off bases loaded walks before McKillican gave way to James Bradwell. The hosts tacked on another run before the 'Birds got out of the inning.



Lucas Soper got a run back in the fourth with a two-out, solo home run.

The 'Birds then added one run each in the seventh and eighth to take an 8-3 lead. Those runs proved their worth when the Redhawks put up three in the bottom of the ninth with their season on the line. With two down, Braeden Allemann, who picked up the win in the 'Birds' win over the Corban Warriors earlier Monday, entered from the bullpen and got his only batter to ground out to secure the victory.



Robinson finished the game 2-for-3 with three RBI and a walk while Soper went 3-for-5. Bradwell went 6.2 innings strong allowing three earned runs on eight hits with four strikeouts and no walks.

Since dropping their opening game in Mesa, the T-Birds have won three straight and will have to win two more in order to claim the conference title over the Pioneers who advanced straight to the final with a 2-0 start in the double knockout tournament.

First pitch is set for 11:00 a.m. PT Tuesday at Hohokam Stadium. If necessary, game two will proceed half an hour after the conclusion of game one.