VANCOUVER, B.C. – Andrew Firth went 4-for-7 with five RBI, as the University of British Columbia used a five-run inning in each game of today’s doubleheader at Thunderbird Park to sweep The College of Idaho by identical 8-2 scores.
The victories by the T-Birds (15-9, 9-3 NAIA West) moved the squad into sole possession second-place in the NAIA West Grouping standings.
UBC opened the scoring of Game 1 in the third, as Jerod Bartnik roped a two-out RBI triple, with Greg Densem following with an RBI single and Firth doubled home a run to make it 3-0.
After the Yotes (16-12, 7-5) squandered an opportunity with first and second and no outs in the fourth, the T-Birds broke the game open with a five unearned runs in the fifth. A dropped fly ball in left field opened the flood gates, as Austin Fruson doubled home two run, with Jeremy Kral and Kevin Biro adding RBI singles.
The C of I scored single runs in both the sixth and ninth innings –with both runs scoring on UBC errors. Bryan Pawlina limited the Yotes to just three hits in six innings to earn the win, with Conor Lillis-White tossing three solid innings for the save. Biro went 2-for-4 in the win for the T-Birds, with Nick Muncy and Sam Johnston each logging two hits for the Yotes.
Game 2 saw UBC jump on C of I starter Brady Winfield for five first inning runs – as Firth provided the big blow with a three-run double. The Yotes would cut into the lead in the second on a two-run Seth Champlin double, but were unable to get closer.
A Firth RBI double and a Biro RBI single in the fifth chased Winfield, with Biro capping the scoring with a leadoff homer in the eighth.
Sean Callegari tossed five innings of five-hit ball for the win, with Alex Webb and Miles Verweel limiting the Yotes to just three hits the rest of the way. UBC had 14 hits in the win.
Gregg Simonds had two hits in the loss for the Yotes, with George Casper allowing just one run in three-plus innings of relief.
The C of I returns home for an Easter Weekend four-game series against Lewis-Clark State.
