KEIZER, Oregon – The UBC Thunderbirds earned a valuable doubleheader split against the Corban Warriors Saturday in Keizer, Oregon.
After trying to wait out some inclement weather Friday, the series wasn't able to begin until Saturday afternoon as the T-Birds (7-3, 11-7) dropped the opener 4-3 in what was a heated pitchers' duel for much of the affair.
UBC bounced back with a convincing 7-2 win in the second half of the double dip, led by a tremendous performance on the mound by junior Jared Spearing who put up a career high 14 strikeouts, one shy of the program record.
The 'Birds started the first game Saturday with a run in the top of the first. Jake Lanferman hit a lead off triple and was promptly driven home by Jaxon Valcke.
It might have been a rough first few pitches for Corban starter Mason Shaw, but the junior pitcher didn't give up another run until the seventh and helped limit the T-Birds to just three hits all game.
The Warriors (3-3, 7-14) tied the game in the bottom of the third with a Dakota Fingar solo home run, the only run surrendered by UBC ace Garrett Hawkins who pitched six innings allowing just four hits while striking out five.
UBC re-took the lead in the top of the seventh when Ryan Beitel hit a two-RBI double, his first extra bases hit as a T-Bird.
Corban responded in their half of the inning scoring three times, all with two out.
The Warriors' relievers were able to keep UBC at bay in the eighth and ninth as Corban held on to take the first game of the weekend.
Spearing's magic on the mound in game two combined with nine hits from eight different batters as the 'Birds responded nicely for the 7-2 victory.
Lanferman once again got things going for UBC, this time driving in the team's first two runs of the game with an RBI single in the third and a sacrifice fly in the fifth.
The T-Birds got out to a 5-0 lead in the sixth. With the bases loaded and none out, Adam Maier scored on a fielder's choice. With the bases still loaded, Brett Corbeth came in as a pinch hitter and scored Ty Penner on a sacrifice fly. Liam Vulcano then stepped up to the plate and drove in another with a double to right centre.
Spearing sat down the side in the bottom of the sixth to finish his outing that saw him allow zero runs on just four hits. His 14 strikeouts was just one shy of the single-game team record of 15 set by both Jeff Francis and Niall Windeler.
The 'Birds added two more runs in the seventh for some added insurance while the Warriors finally got one across in the bottom of the seventh and scored another in the eighth. Finnegan Duffield, Shane LaForest, and Brendan Logan pitched one inning each to close out the game as UBC limited Corban to just the two runs on five hits.
UBC and Corban are set to play another doubleheader on Sunday to close out the series. First pitch is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. PT at Volcanoes Stadium.
