OIT Downs No. 13 UBC in NAIA West Opener
VANCOUVER – The 13th-ranked and tournament No. 1 seed UBC Thunderbirds were upset 7-6 by the No. 4 seed Oregon Tech Hustlin’ Owls in the 11th inning in both teams’ opening game of the 2009 NAIA West National Qualifying Tournament being hosted in Vancouver.
After a tame start to the game, the battle between the North Division champion Thunderbirds and South Division Hustlin’ Owls heated up over the final three innings of regulation before Oregon Tech’s Dustin Kim Seu gave his team the victory with an RBI single in the bottom of the 11th.
The game, originally scheduled for a 6 p.m start at Nat Bailey Stadium, was moved up in the day in anticipation of bad weather, and it appeared the T-Birds struggled with the early start time.
“I can’t even try to explain to you what happened in the first six innings today,” said UBC head coach Terry McKaig. “Offensively we did nothing, Taylor [King, UBC’s starting pitcher] struggled to get ahead in counts and we gave them a lot of opportunities to take control of the game. We need to be able to perform better in the pressure of the playoffs.”
Oregon Tech starter Josh Strom was very effective against the T-Birds, holding UBC to just one hit through six innings. The Hustlin’ Owls were also solid offensively early but King was able to hold Oregon Tech off the scoreboard for the most part, giving up just a single run in the first and third inning.
The T-Birds finally got to Strom in the top of the seventh with a run to pull within one, however, the Hustlin’ Owls responded with a pair runs after a controversial call at first base kept the bottom of the inning alive for Oregon Tech, which was considered the home team for the game.
UBC rallied again in the eighth inning to pull within a single run thanks to an Alex White RBI single and a fielding error by the Hustlin’ Owls before Scott Webster flied out with the bases loaded for the T-Birds.
The rally was on, however, for the T-Birds in the top of the ninth as they scored three runs to take their first lead of the game 6-4.
UBC reliever Sean Hetherington, who tallied eight saves during the season, came into close the bottom of the ninth but was unable to hold off the Hustlin’ Owls, who tied the game on a pinch hit sacrifice fly by Kim Seu.
The 5-foot-4 pinch hitter played hero just two innings later, knocking in the winning run with a single up the middle that just squeaked past Hetherington and then a diving Sammie Starr behind second base.
Oregon Tech reliever Chad Trevisan picked up the win, working 2 and 2/3 innings, giving up one run and three hits. Hetherington took the loss going 2 and 2/3 innings giving up seven hits and three runs.
The T-Birds now have to win the rest of their games in this double elimination tournament, beginning with a 10 a.m. game Tuesday against College of Idaho, which was upset by Cal State San Marcos 9-8 in 11 innings earlier Monday. The loser of that game will be eliminated from the qualifying tournament.
Oregon Tech takes on Cal State San Marcos in the winner’s match-up Tuesday at 2 p.m., with the winner of the loser’s game and loser of the winner’s game facing off at 6 p.m.
All games are currently scheduled for Nat Bailey Stadium.