VANCOUVER – Finally back at Tourmaline West Stadium this weekend, the UBC Thunderbirds face a tough test hosting the No. 3 ranked Lewis-Clark State Warriors for their first Cascade Collegiate Conference regular season home series starting Friday night.

After the T-Birds (14-14, 0-4) appeared to get some traction in their previous home series against Oregon Tech followed by a convincing series win over the Corban Warriors in Oregon, UBC got roughed up by the College of Idaho in a sweep last weekend.

Still with three home series remaining ahead of them and the confidence they are better than what they've shown thus far, a little home cooking might be just what the doctor ordered.



"We're going to have to take advantage of that, there's no question," said UBC head coach Chris Pritchett of playing a home series for just the second time this season. "When we are here, we're definitely going to have to play our best baseball and hold serve so to speak at home if we're going to make a run at this thing."

An 0-4 start to the conference season certainly isn't what the T-Birds had in mind. It's not an alarm bell, but more of a wake-up call to hopefully help kickstart UBC into better execution.

"I think what's happened is this season sneaks up on you and all of a sudden you're halfway through," added Pritchett. "Our guys know that we have good players here that haven't really come together and made a good team but I think everyone kept thinking 'it's going to happen, it's going to happen.' I think when you get swept in the first weekend of conference there's a sense of urgency. That has been the message and I think the guys have responded well this week. Practices have had a different intensity to it, a different focus, they know they need to clean up things and get this thing turned around quickly."



Offensively, the T-Birds have had a tremendous start to 2023. With 10.82 hits per game, UBC sits behind only LC State (18-4, 3-1) and the Yotes in the conference. The 'Birds are also third in the CCC in batting average (.302), and RBI (185). Junior infielder Mike Fitzsimmons continues to lead the way for the blue and gold with 40 hits – second in the conference – and 23 RBI.

All told, this weekend's series features five of the CCC's top ten hitters including Fitzsimmons and Trent Lenihan. Given LC State's prowess in all facets of the game, there's no doubt the T-Birds will have their hands full.

"It's a challenge this weekend, we're going to play the number three ranked team in the NAIA so it's important we play well. I've always said this group, if they play well, can match up with anybody. I'm looking forward to it. We love competing against this team. They play the game the right way, we play the game the right way so that will be fun."



The T-Birds and Warriors last faced each other in a four-game non-conference series in Lewiston, Idaho in mid-February. The hosts took three of four games with UBC's lone victory coming by way of an 11-3 decision.

First pitch for this series opener is set for 6:00 p.m. PT Friday, March 24 at Tourmaline West Stadium. A Saturday doubleheader gets underway at 1:00 p.m. while the series finale starts at 11:00 a.m. Sunday. Admission to all games are free of charge.