VANCOUVER — The UBC Thunderbirds (19-9, 24-18) battled through a pitcher's duel to come away with a 3-1 win over the College of Idaho (10-19, 16-32) Friday night at Tourmaline West Stadium.
T-Birds ace
Niall Windeler earned his fifth win of the season pitching six solid innings allowing just the one 'Yotes run while
Brandon Hupe scored the eventual game winning run on a bizarre play in the second.
Brett Corbeth picked up his second save with a flawless ninth on the mound.
"They came out swinging it pretty good and Niall really settled in and gave us a chance," said UBC head coach
Chris Pritchett. "('Yotes starting pitcher Hunter) Boyd was tough tonight, he was unpredictable and kept our guys guessing. They kicked it around a bit and we took advantage of that, went ahead and stayed there. Guys at the end of the game threw the ball really well to help preserve the win."
Following a leadoff single, the Owls got into scoring position in the top of the first but Windeler got designated hitter Jon Gonzalez to hit into a double play to end the early threat.
UBC got a leadoff single from
Mike Fitzsimmons who advanced to second when
Noah Or was hit by a Boyd pitch. After
Jaxon Valcke made it to first on a fielder's choice, the T-Birds took advantage of a messy OIT inning in the field to get themselves on the board. Fitzsimmons scored when a check to first when awry with the first baseman mishandling the throw. Boyd was able to sit down his next two batters to avoid any further damage.
After Hupe hit a leadoff double in the second, the 'Birds doubled their lead when
Nolan Weger hit the ball down the first base line. Boyd grabbed the ball but his throw to first hit Weger before deflecting towards the Owls' dugout, allowing UBC's second baseman to reach second while Hupe scored.
College of Idaho got another leadoff hit to start the third when Keaton Elledge doubled down the right field line. The junior first baseman scored on a Matthew Clay RBI single to left, the first run allowed by Windeler in 12 innings. UBC's ace refused to let another across in the third as he sat down his next three batters, two of them strikeouts, to keep the 'Birds in front.
After three scoreless innings, UBC added to their lead in the bottom of the sixth.
Zach Prisciak snuck the ball past the second baseman and into shallow right, plating
Austen Butler. The 'Birds remained with runners on the corners and two down, but Boyd caught Fitzsimmons swinging.
Rookie reliever
Brendan Logan came in to pitch the seventh for the 'Birds after Windeler allowed just one earned run on six hits with six strikeouts and no walks.
Jack Caswell came out of the pen for the top of the eighth and just like Logan, kept the 'Yotes off the board to keep UBC's two-run lead intact.
C of I went to their pen for the first time in the bottom of the eighth as Dalton Strong relieved Boyd after allowing two earned runs on five UBC hits with six strikeouts.
Weger hit a two-out single to centre followed by a Prisciak walk, but Strong got out of the inning unscathed bringing the 'Yotes to their final three outs.
UBC once again went to their pen bringing in the freshman Corbeth. Not only did the rookie from London, Ontario pick up his second save of the season, he struck out the side to clinch the 'Birds' fifth straight win over the 'Yotes this season.
C of I outhit the T-Birds 7-6 in the tightly fought battle, the kind of game which can only elevate the 'Birds' confidence.
"You just have to be ready to be in the moment," said Pritchett. "If they show up ready to go and accept whatever the thing is and try to outwork the other team then we'll be okay."
The 'Birds and 'Yotes continue their series Saturday with a doubleheader starting at 12:00 p.m. PT. Between games UBC's three graduating seniors will be honoured in a special ceremony in the infield with the second half of the double bill scheduled for 3:00 p.m. PT.
