VANCOUVER — The UBC Thunderbirds got another stellar performance by a rookie pitcher Sunday in a 4-3 win over the Lewis-Clark State Warriors at Tourmaline West Stadium. The victory clinched the series for the 'Birds as Garrett Hawkins pitched a complete game earning his first NAIA conference win on the mound.
Hawkins allowed just four hits and a single walk while striking out five batters throwing a total of 101 pitches.
UBC's (8-9, 3-1 NAIA West) winning run came as part of a big three-run fourth inning that chased LC (5-7-1, 1-3 NAIA West) pitcher Kade Woods. Mike Fitzsimmons was credited with the game-winning RBI on a sacrifice fly.
"Usually if you want to end up on top in the division it goes through Lewis-Clark State most times so we realize that and we're happy to get the win and the series," said UBC head coach Chris Pritchett. "I think it'll be a heck of a series when we go down there but anytime you win a series against Lewis-Clark State we feel good about it, no doubt about it."
The T-Birds wasted no time getting on the board Sunday. After a three-up, three-down first inning for Hawkins, Fitzsimmons earned a leadoff walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch and got himself to third on a steal with one down and Ty Penner at the plate who hit a sacrifice fly to right.
Hawkins retired his first ten batters before the Warriors got a man on base with one down in the top of the fourth. With two on and still just one down, LC tied the game when AJ Davis scored from third on a Darren Trainor ground out play. The 'Birds limited the damage and Hawkins got the final batter of the inning to pop out as the game entered the bottom half tied at one.
UBC didn't take long to restore their lead, however, as Nolan Weger drove a double all the way to the centre field wall to score Austen Butler from second. It was Weger's second hit of the day and fourth of the weekend.
Weger later scored on a fielding error as a Zach Prisciak fly ball dropped to give the 'Birds their first multiple run lead of the game. Reliever Anthony Toribio came in and inherited two base runners with just one out. UBC tacked what proved to be the deciding run on Fitzsimmons' sac fly to give the home side a 4-1 advantage through four.
The Warriors got right back within a run in the top of the fifth when Jeff Bart hit a two run homer with none out. But Hawkins sat down his next three batters to keep the 'Birds ahead and never let Lewis-Clark get a chance at tying the game again.
Facing a strong team in the Warriors for the first time is no easy feat, but Hawkins looked as cool as ever in the top of the ninth, never giving the visitors a sniff as he pitched another three-up, three-down inning to earn the complete game win.
"He wanted the ball and to finish it in a tough situation against a tough team and that's pretty impressive for a first year kid," Pritchett said in praise of his freshman starter. "All weekend our pitching, especially our starting pitching, those guys really set the tone and I think that just provided some confidence to the rest of the group, especially the young guys and I thought that was really important."
The series victory is the first for the 'Birds over LC State in two seasons while UBC has now won four of their five series at Tourmaline West Stadium since it opened last spring. The only series at home the 'Birds haven't won the last two seasons was a split against the LC Warriors last April.
Weger led the 'Birds at the plate going 2-for-4 with an RBI while each team managed just four hits.
The Warriors are on the road again next weekend when they visit the College of Idaho Yotes for a four-game series.
The T-Birds stay in Vancouver to host the Corban Warriors for a pair of doubleheaders next Saturday and Sunday. Legendary former Thunderbird and long-time MLB pitcher Jeff Francis will be on hand to have his No. 16 jersey retired at Tourmaline West Stadium between games Saturday.