UBC snaps nine-game winning streak with doubleheader split

White Rock Tritons grad and UBC right-hander Daniel Orfaly (White Rock, B.C.) allowed three earned runs on four hits in eight innings in his start in the second game of a doubleheader against the Oregon Tech Owls on Sunday. Photo: UBC Athletics

March 16, 2025

By Ian French

UBC Communications

VANCOUVER – The UBC Thunderbirds had their winning streak snapped at nine as they split Sunday's doubleheader with the Oregon Tech Owls at Tourmaline West Stadium.

Kyle Yip's five RBIs propelled the T-Birds to an 11-6 win in the first matchup, while Oregon Tech surged late in the second game, totalling seven runs in the top of the ninth to earn the 8-4 comeback victory.

Game One

After the Owls tallied a run on a sacrifice fly in the first inning, UBC responded in the next two frames with three runs — highlighted by a first pitch, solo shot to left field from Kaden Zarowny (Strathmore, Alta.).

In the bottom of the third and with a runner on, UBC's Mitchell Middlemiss (Chilliwack, B.C.) blasted one into left centre and managed to leg out a triple in the process. Next up was Yip. Already with a double on the day, the sophomore catcher made contact and crushed the ball over the wall in left, upping his team's advantage to 6-1.

"[Yip's] just getting comfortable. He's been in and out of the lineup and now he's sort of the mainstay," said UBC head coach Chris Pritchett. "He can relax a little bit. We knew he was capable of this and it's starting to happen."

The Owls added a run in the fourth, but UBC responded by piling on in the bottom of the fifth. Already with another run on the board and the bases loaded, David Draayers (Abbotsford, B.C.) stepped into the box and delivered a double down the left field line, scoring two more. Aiden Rose (Calgary, Alta.) followed and proceeded to rip one up the middle for the RBI single. A subsequent sacrifice fly capped off the five-run frame for the Birds, bringing their advantage up to 11-2.

The next three innings saw threats with baserunners on for both sides, however things remained scoreless heading into the top of the ninth. Already with a run on the board but down to their final out, Oregon Tech's Matthew Ortiz stepped into the box with runners on second and third and drilled the ball to right field, just over an outstretched glove, for the two-RBI double. The Owls managed to tack on another run, but couldn't muster much more, ending the game at 11-6.

Game Two

The Owls’ scoring outburst from the previous game's ninth seemed to seep into the top of the first in this matchup. Following a fly out to centre field, and an ensuing walk, senior third baseman Tyler Horner turned on one, sending a double to right field, putting base runners on second and third. Infielder Patrick Barry followed and only needed a little contact to send a grounder to first base, giving the runner time to get home from third for the early score.

UBC punched back in the bottom half of the first. After T-Bird captain Trent Lenihan (White Rock, B.C.) tripled to the right field wall, Aaron Marsh (Nanaimo, B.C.) was next up and took a page out of the Owls' book by poking a roller to the shortstop, leading to him being thrown out while Lenihan made it home to tie it up. As this inning unveiled itself, it appeared to be the making of another high scoring affair, but both starting pitchers proved that was not the case.

Over the next four-and-a-half innings both sides were held scoreless. Tons of contact was being made, but nothing seemed to find open ground, until the bottom of the sixth. With one out in the frame, and runners in scoring position, Middlemiss delivered a sac fly to take the 2-1 lead.

The low-scoring affair opened up in the bottom of the eighth as back-to-back doubles eventually led UBC to a 4-1 advantage. As the T-Birds were staring down the final three outs that were in the way of a 10-game winning streak, the Owls had other ideas.

In the top of the ninth, Oregon Tech caught a rhythm. With two runners on, Barry came through once again, this time delivering a moon shot that landed directly on the midway point of the left field foul line for an RBI double. A passed ball later added another run to narrow the margin to 4-3. Still with two runners on and no outs, fourth-year outfielder Ka'ala Tam walked to the plate and provided a double of his own to take the 5-4 lead. Another double, a single and a couple of walks aided the Owls in ballooning their lead to 8-4. With the script flipped, UBC was down to their final three outs and couldn't muster any more offence, ending the game with their first loss in 10 games.

Both pitchers highlighted the day, with OIT's Noah Loew giving up only three hits over six innings while UBC's Daniel Orfaly tossed for eight complete frames while conceding four hits.

"[Orfaly] was outstanding," Pritchett said. "He was mixing a couple of pitches, and the Owls are a really good hitting team. He just had it going the whole game. I'm really, really happy with all of our starters this weekend."

The T-Birds will make their way to Salem, Ore., next week as they look to battle with the Corban University Warriors for a four-game series starting Friday night at 7:00 p.m.