UBC ends Warriors' Win Streak at 16

5-1-07

Five University of British Columbia pitchers combined on a five-hit shutout as the Thunderbirds knocked off top-ranked Lewis-Clark State for the second time in as many games this season, claiming a quick 1-0 win at Lewiston's Harris Field on Tuesday night. 

The T-birds, who defeated LCSC 5-3 earlier this season in Vancouver, snapped LCSC's 16-game win streak and dropped the Warriors to 44-4 on the season. UBC is now 19-15 overall. 

With a big three-game series this weekend against Albertson that will decide the Region I regular-season title (LCSC is ineligible for the title), UBC went with a pre-determined split and kept the Warrior bats quiet. LCSC pitcher Chris Kissock also tossed a five-hitter through eight innings, but gave up the game's only run in the seventh inning to fall to 10-1 on the season. Kissock struck out nine and walked one. 

UBC starter Mark Hardy pitched the first three innings and allowed two hits. Greg Chong allowed a hit in his only inning of work, while Doug Grant and Brendan Rolfe followed with two hitless innings apiece. Brett Murray did give up two hits in the ninth, but worked his way out of trouble to earn the save. 

The game's only run came when pinch-hitter Scott Webster led off the seventh inning with a home run on an 0-2 count. It was Webster's first home run of the season. 

British Columbia's defense turned two doubleplays as LCSC left only four on base, compared to six for UBC.  

Mark Thompson had two of LCSC's five hits. 

The Warriors didn't get a runner past first base until the ninth inning. That's when Thompson singled, but was picked off at first. Brent Wyatt followed with a walk and Beau Mills singled him to second. Jessie Mier, however, grounded into a double play to end the game. 

The two teams meet again Wednesday at 6 p.m., and then conclude the three-game series with a single contest at noon on Thursday.

(Catcher Jessie Mier received a strike from centerfielder Brent Wyatt and applied the tag just in time on UBC's Zach Ross to keep the game at 0-0 in the fourth inning)