LEWISTON, ID – The UBC Thunderbirds opened up the second day of the Cascade Collegiate Conference's post-season tournament with a 6-3 loss to the host Lewis-Clarke State Warriors. The double-elimination format would find the T-Birds matched up against the College of Idaho Yotes for the second consecutive day, and the rematch did not disappoint as UBC completed the 12-9 comeback victory over the Yotes to push them into the CCC Championship game for a rematch with the LC State Warriors at Harris Field. By securing a berth in the conference final, the 'Birds have punched their ticket to the opening round of the NAIA World Series.
Game 1
UBC starting pitcher
Shane Laforest was up for the challenge against one of the best teams in the country in Lewis-Clark State Tuesday morning as the right hander started the game with a routine first inning.
With one out in the bottom of the first inning,
Ty Penner won the battle at the plate with a single to right field. After a pop-up second out,
Nathan Shute drew a walk to put two aboard.
Brandon Hupe then smashed a double to left-field to bring home the first run of the game and give the T-Birds a 1-0 lead.
Laforest continued to win his pitching battles in the second inning as the Warriors were unable to figure out the Belle River, Ontario native's timing.
Trent Lenihan continued to hit the ball well as he led off the bottom of the second inning with a single through the middle of the infield. LC State's starting pitcher Eric Chavarria then closed the inning with three easy outs.
The Warriors tied the game in the top of the fourth inning as Zach Threlfall's RBI single brought the game to 1-1.
Sam Linscott's RBI single in the top of the fifth inning gave LC State a 2-1 lead, but the T-Birds fought back in the bottom half of the inning with two runs of their own.
Nolan Weger hit a lead-off single, then
Cameron Sanderson dropped a perfect bunt down the third base line to advance the runner and take first base. With no outs, the 'Birds attempted to advance runners further but this bunt attempt popped up and was caught. A throwing error by the Warriors catcher then allowed the game-tying run to score, 2-2. Shute then brought the go-ahead run home with a fielder's choice, 3-2 UBC.
Laforest's day came to a close in the top of the sixth inning after surrendering a three-run home run to Charlie Updegrave.
Adam Khan entered in relief and escaped the inning after forcing consecutive ground outs, T-Birds trail 5-3.
The Warriors added an insurance run in the top of the eighth inning as Riley Way hit a solo home run to extend the lead to 6-3.
Down by three in the ninth inning, the T-Birds attempted to start their comeback with two straight walks. Eli Shubert then retired the first out of the inning before a ground ball double-play secured the victory for LC State.
The double-elimination format would see the T-Birds face the winner of the Corban Warriors and the College of Idaho Yotes later Tuesday evening.
Game 2
Branden Woods took the mound for the 'Birds with a spot in the CCC Final on the line and the Yotes took him for an early ride in the first inning, scoring the first run of the game off of a sacrifice fly. Following two walks, Jake Denison then connected on a double down the left-field line to clear the bases, Yotes up 4-0.
The College of Idaho added four more runs in the top of the third inning to take a commanding 8-0 lead. The T-Birds cut into the deficit in the bottom half of the inning as
Nolan Weger led off with a solo home run.
Mike Fitzsimmons followed with a one-out double to keep the pressure on and it worked as a throwing error brought him home shortly after. Hupe then connected on a double to bring home two more runs and cut the Yotes lead in half, 8-4.
The Yotes added one run in the fourth inning with a bases loaded sacrifice fly to bring the lead to 9-4, but
Sean Heppner escaped the inning leaving three men on base.
The 'Birds were looking to chip away at the lead in the bottom half of the inning as a couple of singles from the bats of
Brett Corbeth and Weger allowed Sanderson to hit a sac fly, UBC behind 9-5.
The T-Birds made a push in the seventh inning as a walk, single, and a hit by pitch loaded the bases, forcing the Yotes to make a pitching change. Wisenor was unable to control the ball and threw a wild pitch to score the inning's first run. Johnny McGill then ripped an RBI single, followed by a second wild pitch to score another run. To cap off the five-run inning, Fitzsimmons pushed a single to centre to score two more runs and take the lead, 10-9.
UBC took momentum with one monstrous inning, but they were not done yet as they added two more insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth inning, 12-9 UBC.
Vicarte Domingo stepped onto the mound for the ninth inning save and secured the win by striking out his first batter and forcing ground outs for the last two outs.
With the win, the T-Birds earned themselves a rematch with the Lewis-Clarke State Warriors at 1:00 p.m. (PT) tomorrow in the CCC final. The double-elimination format will require the T-Birds to beat LC State twice as the host have yet to suffer a tournament defeat.
