LEWISTON, ID – In the opening game of the Cascade Collegiate Conference's post-season tournament, the UBC Thunderbirds took down the College of Idaho Yotes 10-3 at Harris Field.
 
The T-Birds attacked early as lead-off batter Mike Fitzsimmons won the battle at the plate by drawing a walk. Ty Penner then connected on a single before Noah Or drew the inning's second walk to load the bases. Nathan Shute muscled a ball to first base to bring home the game's first run. Brandon Hupe then ripped a single to bring home two more runs. With two outs, Trent Lenihan stepped up to the plate and launched a two-run homer to extend UBC's lead to 5-0 after one inning and bringing the T-Birds bench to their feet.


 
The Yotes made a call to their bullpen to replace starting pitcher Connor Root after the deep ball in an attempt to limit the damage. Luke Brewer entered the game and did exactly that as he forced a fly out to close the inning.
 
UBC starting pitcher Ryan Beitel had himself a day on the mound for the 'Birds as his five innings of work and seven strikeouts were pivotal to open Monday's playoff opener.


 
Down by five runs after a half-inning, the Yotes needed to regain momentum by cutting into the deficit. A one-out walk followed by a McFarland single gave the College of Idaho some much needed hope. A wild pitch then advanced runners to second and third base before Robertson sent a sacrifice fly to deep centre to bring the game to 5-1 UBC.
 
The 'Birds added a couple more runs in the third inning as a couple of walks began the inning by added important base runners. With a couple of men on base and just one out, Lenihan and Nolan Weger drove in back-to-back runs as their ground outs extended UBC's lead to 7-1.


 
One run was added in the top of the fourth inning after a Yotes defensive fielding error scored Shute from second base, T-Birds in the drivers seat with an 8-1 lead.
 
With a seven-run lead in the bottom half of the fourth inning, Beitel continued to shine as he struck-out three out of his four batters faced. His ability to stay focused with such a large league was important in keeping the Yotes offence tamed.
 
Beitel's day came to an end in the bottom of the sixth inning after giving up a couple of singles. Graham Seltzer entered the game and forced his first batter to fly-out, but the speedy Yotes player on third base tagged up and scored to creep closer, 8-2 UBC.
 
Lenihan added an RBI in the top of the seventh inning as his single brought home Shute to extend the UBC lead to 9-2.


 
Jonah Hultberg gave his team hope in the bottom half of the inning with a lead-off home run to deep right-centre field. Seltzer recovered well and earned three routine outs to close the inning with the six-run lead.
 
UBC continued to stack quality at-bats together as Lenihan capped off his incredible day with a single to bring home his fifth run of the game.
 
Seltzer secured the UBC win in the bottom of the ninth to earn his first save of the season.

The T-Birds return to Harris Field tomorrow morning for their second game of the CCC post-season tournament beginning at 11:00 a.m. (PT).