VANCOUVER, B.C. – The Corban University Baseball team (15-29) lost both games in the final Saturday of the regular season, allowing eleven runs in each of the contests to the University of British Columbia (30-18, 15-7). An impressive hitting performance from the Thunderbirds cut the games short, with ten-run rules ending both contests in the seventh inning.
"UBC did a great job of controlling our at-bats and playing with energy," Corban Head Coach Ethan Bragg shared. "We need to reset and get back to our individual approaches tomorrow."
Game 1 – UBC 11, Corban 1 (7 Innings)
In the afternoon's first matchup, British Columbia dominated the early innings. Shortstop Mike Fitzsimmons crushed a home run out of the park in the first inning, scoring two runs and setting the tone for the contest. Second baseman Aaron Marsh added to the tally with a run scored, before first baseman Trent Lenihan's sacrifice fly brought in another, leaving the score 3-0 at the end of the first inning.
The Thunderbirds carried their momentum with them into the third inning, with a double from Lenihan and single from left fielder Kyle Anderson bringing in another two runs. Marsh was then caught at second base shortly after trying to stretch a into a double, but not before his RBI single gave UBC a commanding 7-0 lead.
Corban found a small spark in the fourth inning, with sophomore third baseman Ryan Clay's powerful solo homer narrowing the gap to 7-1. However, UBC quickly answered with a triple to right field from centerfielder Brett Corbeth that scored two runs. Designated hitter Brandon Hupe then stepped up in the seventh inning, drilling a two RBI home run that finalized an 11-1 score and secured the series-opening victory.
Despite throwing six strikeouts, Warriors' junior pitcher Nate Martin was credited with the loss after allowing nine runs in 4.0 innings. A combination of relievers James Arend and Giovanni Cervantes gave up three hits in the remainder of the contest.
British Columbia pitcher Sean Heppner earned his sixth win of the season, dealing an impressive 12 strikeouts and allowing just one run throughout the game.
Ryan Clay and sophomore shortstop Elijah Maris each led the way by tallying two hits, with Clay recording the only RBI of the game for the Warriors. Corban had six total hits in the contest.
The Thunderbirds were explosive offensively, finishing with fifteen hits and eleven earned runs. Hupe had a particularly great day at the plate, marking three hits, two RBI, and three runs scored.
Game 2 – BCU 11, Corban 0
The second game of the doubleheader continued to be all Thunderbirds by putting on an impressive display of offensive firepower. The home team came out swinging in the bottom of the second inning, as Jonny McGill scored on a single hit by Lenihan. The hits kept coming from there, with Anderson hitting a single that allowed Lenihan to score, followed by catcher Russell Young punching a single to right center, bringing in Anderson. Marsh then doubled to right center, sending centerfielder Luciano Letteri home for the 4-0 advantage.
British Columbia persisted in piling on the runs, with third baseman David Draayers hitting an RBI single to right field in the bottom of the third inning. In the bottom of the fourth, centerfielder Cameron Sanderson scored unearned on the throwing attempt, and Hupe hit a double that allowed Fitzsimmons and Marsh to reach home, with the scoreboard now reading 8-0, Thunderbirds.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, pinch-hitter Mitchell Middlemis hit a sacrifice fly that allowed Letteri to add another run to their totals. McGill would go on to pipe a double to right field, with Fitzsimmons capitalizing on an error in right-field to score. Draayers sealed an 11-0 win for UBC with another RBI single to right field.
Junior Bryce Bridge suffered his third loss of the season as the starting pitcher for Corban, allowing nine hits and eight runs scored in 4.0 innings of play. Senior relief pitcher Alex Hakes pitched the final two innings, letting three runs score along the way.
British Columbia was anchored by starter Ryan Bietal, who allowed just two hits throughout the game and dealt eight strikeouts.
It was a slow game for the Warriors offensively, with just junior left fielder Kyle Clay and senior designated hitter Keenan O'Brien managing to finish with a hit.
The Thunderbirds saw six different players record multiple hits, ending with a total of thirteen hits tallied throughout the game.
The Warriors will return to Tourmaline West Stadium on Sunday to finish their doubleheader with the Thunderbirds, beginning at 11am PDT. Sunday marks the final day of competition in the Navy and Gold's regular season schedule for 2023.
Follow Corban Athletics:
Facebook l Twitter l Instagram l Snapchat l YouTube l Email
Download our App: iOS (iPhone/iPad) l Android
