April 13, 2024

By Toby Kerr

UBC Communications

CALDWELL, Idaho – The UBC Thunderbirds (29-13, 14-5) swept a doubleheader against the College of Idaho Yotes (11-30, 2-13) in decisive fashion on Saturday, earning 19-12 and 11-3 victories to extend their winning streak to seven.

Aaron Marsh had a historically good day, as he drove in an eye-popping 11 runs on five hits in game one, which matched the most in a single game in Cascade Conference history. Marsh added three more hits in the second half of the double dip for good measure.

David Draayers was the 'Birds main game two run producer, knocking in five on the strength of three hits. Between the two games, conference batting average leader Trent Lenihan also had seven hits, four RBIs, and three runs scored.

On the bump, Ryan Beitel put up a quality start in game two, pitching into the eighth inning and giving up just three runs. A pair of relievers also stood out for the T-Birds. Evan Hoegler twirled four scoreless innings to earn the save in game one. Oliver Duthie closed out game two by setting down all five batters he faced.

Game One

Game one saw UBC fall behind early, as the College of Idaho scratched across runs in each of the first two frames to go up 3-0 by the end of the second.

That's when the UBC bats came alive, as the 'Birds brought home four runs in each of the third, fourth and fifth, with Marsh driving in six of those 12 total tallies thanks to RBI knocks in all three frames. After five innings, the T-Birds led 12-8.

In the sixth, Ardan Berg added to the lead with an RBI single to cash Mitchell Middlemiss. The run appeared to be icing on the cake, until the Yotes pounded out four of their own in their half of the sixth and suddenly the UBC lead was down to 13-12.

Hoegler settled things down on the mound for the 'Birds from there, allowing just a single while blanking the Yotes in the final three frames.

The true icing on the cake for the blue and gold was Marsh stepping up and hitting a grand slam in the bottom of the eighth, knocking himself in for his record-tying 11th RBI in a performance that won't soon be forgotten.

Game Two

Game two was less competitive.

After the T-Birds scored on a Lenihan double in the top of the first and a Draayers groundout in the second, Jackson Boomer had perhaps the most exciting play of the day by legging out an inside-the-park home run to put UBC up 3-0 after two.

The 'Birds proceeded to score two more runs in each of the third and fourth innings, highlighted by a Jonny McGill RBI triple in the fourth. UBC led 7-1 by the end of that frame and never looked back.

Draayers tacked on his second and third RBI singles of the game in the later innings, McGill and Boomer each drove in another run as well, and the T-Birds were never threatened as they cruised to the eventual 11-3 win, outhitting the Yotes 19-5 in the process.