VANCOUVER, B.C. – After both teams dropped three of four games on the opening weekend of Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) play, it was the No. 23-ranked University of British Columbia Thunderbirds who made their voices heard the loudest today on their home field, as they handed out a pair of massive seven inning run-rule shutouts of the Warriors via 22-0 and 16-0 final scores.
"Not the results that we wanted today for sure," Corban head coach Ryan Harris stated earlier this evening. "Not a whole lot went right for us in game one. Game two I thought Aidan pitched competitively and gave us a chance, but we didn't put much pressure on their starter. I thought we pressed in the box, got away from who we are and what we're capable of as an offense. New opportunities tomorrow, time to regroup and fight to the bitter end in every opportunity we're given."
Game 1 - #23 UBC 22, Corban 0 (7 Innings)
The Thunderbirds (18-11, 3-3) utilized a 10-run first inning of play and kept their feet on the gas pedal through the entirety of game one, scoring a run in every inning en route to a 22-0 blowout win in their conference home opener. Meanwhile, the Warriors (6-21, 1-5) usual dominance at the plate was subdued by an exceptional start by UBC's ace Will Anderson, who allowed just four hits to the Navy and Gold in 5.0 innings to secure the opening win.
Warriors' senior starting pitcher Bryce Bridge couldn't escape a first inning where he allowed eight runs on six hits and a pair of walks while striking out a single batter. Five different bullpen pitchers entered game one and all surrendered at least one run against the hot-hitting Thunderbirds.
Corban was led at the plate by graduate student first baseman Nainoa Ka'ahanui, who continued his final year supremacy with a 2-for-3 day at the plate. Junior rightfielder Noah Owens and sophomore second baseman Brady Majewski were the only other Warriors with base hits in game one.
British Columbia saw multi-hit appearances for seven of their nine starting lineups spots, with leadoff hitter and centerfielder Kaden Zarowny leading the charge with four hits, two RBI, and two runs scored. Second baseman Aaron Marsh tallied a game-high six RBI from the second slot in the UBC lineup.
Game 2 - #23 UBC 16, Corban 0 (7 Innings)
After a scoreless frame from both teams to start game two, the Thunderbirds picked right back up where they left off offensively with a pair of runs in the second, one in the fourth, three in the fifth, and blew the doors off in the bottom of the sixth with ten-consecutive runs to ice the Warriors once again.
Corban's sophomore starting pitcher Aidan Bray gave his program a chance in the nightcap contest with minimal damage through five innings yet was finally broken through in the sixth to finish with an eight-run, eight-hit, four-walk and two-strikeout final line. Freshman reliever Kolbe McAfee and senior relief pitcher Giovanni Cervantes combined for the final 0.2 innings of work, allowing a combined eight runs on five hits, three walks, and a pair of punchouts.
After setting the CCC single-game record for strikeouts a few weeks ago, Thunderbirds' starting pitcher Sean Heppner returned to his home mound to finish with a complete game shutout, allowing three hits and three free passes while securing a game-high nine strikeouts.
Owens was joined by redshirt sophomore catcher Joshua Miyazawa and junior third baseman Ryan Clay with base hits in game two. Clay also drew two of the three walks that Heppner issued this afternoon.
Five different British Columbia student-athletes had at least two hits in the day one finale, with Zarowny and first baseman Trent Lenihan contributing four RBI apiece to the 38 total team runs scored today by UBC.
Corban and UBC are back in action tomorrow afternoon for the final two games of their four-game conference series, beginning at 11am at Tourmaline West Stadium.
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