LA GRANDE, Ore. – In a frustrating start to their second conference road series of the season, the UBC Thunderbirds (20-13, 5-5) dropped both halves of a Saturday doubleheader to the host Eastern Oregon Mountaineers (11-21, 2-8) at La Grande's Pioneer Park.

The 'Birds had their four-game win streak snapped in a 3-2 pitchers' duel followed by an 11-6 loss in game two of the double dip that saw UBC limited to a combined 16 hits over the 18 innings.
 

GAME ONE

T-Birds ace Sean Heppner was up to his usual stuff on the mound in the series opener allowing just one hit through the first four innings.

Unfortunately for the junior starter – and the 'Birds as a whole – Eastern Oregon's Brock Cordes had an equally impressive day on the bump as the game remained scoreless into the fifth inning with UBC also limited to a lone hit through four.

David Draayers broke through for the 'Birds with a one-out triple in the top of the fifth and was later driven home by Russell Young to open scoring.



Cordes limited the 'Birds to the lone run and EOU tied the game in the bottom half when Parker Cumberlan scored Brandon Taddy on a ground out to second.

After pitching another scoreless inning in the sixth, Heppner retired having allowed just the one run on four hits with four strikeouts and a pair of walks.

The 'Birds scored the go-ahead run in the top of the eighth when Mitchell Middlemiss hit an RBI double, allowing Trent Lenihan to score from third. Once again, Cordes limited the damage and kept it a one-run game.

The Mounties responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning. The hosts tied the game 2-2 on a wild pitch and Taddy scored the game winning run on the same at-bat thanks to a Tommy Whiles single.

Vicarte Domingo pitched the final two innings for the 'Birds with two runs on three hits and a pair of strikeouts while tagged with the loss. Alex Farnsworth was credited with the win, his first of the season as Eastern Oregon picked up their first conference victory of the season.


 

GAME TWO

Offence was easier to come by for both teams in the second game Saturday with the game tied 2-2 heading into the second.

UBC re-took the lead in the top of the third when Middlemiss second of three hits on the day drove in Jonny McGill.

The T-Birds' lead didn't last long, however, with the Mounties re-taking a 4-3 advantage on back-to-back RBI doubles from Joey Freitas and Mario Landeros.

After tacking on another run in the bottom of the fifth, the real damage by the Mounties' bats came in the sixth with EOU plating six, all off home runs. Youhyeon Choi hit a two-run shot after a leadoff walk and three batters later Freitas struck again, this time with a three-run homer to get the score to 10-4. Landeros added a solo before Oliver Duthie – who entered following Freita's long ball – retired the next three batters.

Facing a seven run deficit, the 'Birds managed to get two runs back, one each in the eighth and ninth. Lenihan launched his ninth homer of the season in the eighth and McGill earned a bases loaded walk the next inning, but that's as close as UBC would get.

The 'Birds will lick their wounds and return back to the park looking for the series split with an Easter Sunday doubleheader. First pitch of game one is set for 11:00 a.m.