BOX SCORES – GAME #1 | GAME #2

VANCOUVER, B.C. – Senior Jason Braun (Dallas, Ore.) pitched a strong opening 6.2 innings in the opener to go along with a perfect 3-for-3 by junior Matt Schmidt (Corvallis, Ore.), but Corban's baseball team could not overcome a pair of big innings by the host Thunderbirds en route to British Columbia picking up its first-ever victories at Thunderbird Park, 10-6 & 5-1, Friday afternoon.

In the opener, the visiting Warriors scored single runs in the second and sixth inning before putting three runs on the board in the top of the seventh inning en route to grabbing a 5-0 lead. Unfortunately, the host T-birds exploded for nine runs on five hits in their half of the seventh thanks to a pair of three-run home runs.  Both teams added single runs in their respective half of the eighth inning for the final tally of 10-6 in favor of UBC.

Senior Russ Johnston (Independence, Ore.) and sophomore Trevor Winsor (Troutdale, Ore.) led the Warriors' bat-attack with a pair of two-hit performances, while senior Craig Spicer (Vancouver, Wash.), junior Josh Warner (Independence, Ore.), and sophomore Taylor Stiles (Santa Maria, Calif.) added a hit each. Johnston added a pair of RBI, while freshman Steven Blum (Salem, Ore.) registered two runs scored.

Braun allowed five runs (four earned) in his time on the mound to go along with three strikeouts before giving way to a pair of relievers. In the bottom of the seventh inning, sophomore Kyle Lamson (Medford, Ore.) faced four batters without recording an out allowing four unearned runs on three hits en route to suffering the loss. Sophomore Nate Hiebert (Lebanon, Ore.) ended the game throwing the final 1.1 innings of work, as he allowed one earned run on one hit to close out the pitching performances for the Warriors.

British Columbia got a trio of two-hit performances from Jon Syrnyk, Ryan Pilgrim, and Mike Elias. Elias drove in a game-high four RBI via a pair of home runs, while Pilgrim registered three runs batted in on a seventh inning home run that helped the host Thunderbirds to the come-from-behind victory. UBC's Mark Hardy went the opening 7.0 innings allowing five runs (three earned) on five hits to go along with a game-high four K's. A trio of T-bird relievers went the final two innings, as the three hurlers allowed a combined one earned run on one hit.

In the night cap, Corban scored the game's opening run following a game-opening double down the left field line by Warner before Schmidt brought the Warriors' lone run across the plate via a single to right field.

Following four scoreless innings, British Columbia struck for five runs on five hits in the fifth inning with the highlight coming via a pair of run-scoring doubles by Scott Webster and Syrnyk. The later hit drove home the host Thunderbirds' third run after Sammie Starr drove in UBC's eventual game-winning run via a single through the right side.

Besides Schmidt's three-hit performance, Warner and Blum were the only other Warriors to register a hit. Pitching-wise, senior Derek Stokes (Anchorage, Alaska) went the opening 5.0 innings allowing five runs (three earned) on nine hits before freshman Quinn Macnab (The Dalles, Ore.) closed out the game with a one-inning performance.

British Columbia was led by Pilgrim and Webster, who each registered a pair of hits. On the mound, Taylor King went the distance allowing one earned run on five hits to go along with a game-high two strikeouts.

With the losses, Corban falls to 6-11 overall (4-6 in NAIA West action) versus British Columbia's 14-3 win-loss mark that includes an 8-1 record in NAIA West play. Both teams will conclude the four-game series with another twin bill on Saturday, March 14th, beginning at 11:00 a.m. at Thunderbird Park.