UBC defeated Warner Pacific 12-2 in the first game of their doubleheader on Saturday. Photo: UBC Communications

March 29, 2025

By Jake McGrail

UBC Communications

PORTLAND, Ore. – The two games had very different scripts, but the UBC Thunderbirds managed to pull out two more wins on the road, taking down the Warner Pacific Knights for the series sweep.

With scores of 12-2 and 10-2, the T-Birds have now scored 10 or more runs in 16 of their 32 games so far this season, after reaching double digits in 15 out of 55 games last year.

Saturday's offensive barrage included 13 runs between the two ninth innings, as the 'Birds came up with the goods at clutch times, particularly in the back half of the doubleheader.

David Krahn (Langley, B.C.) continued his fantastic rookie campaign, compiling four hits and five RBIs between the two games. Mitchell Middlemiss (Chilliwack, B.C.), Kyle Yip (Calgary, Alta.) and Kaden Zarowny (Strathmore, Alta.) all recorded multi-RBI games as well, with Yip doing so in both halves of the doubleheader. Ryan Heppner (Point Roberts, Wash.) and James Brock (Burnaby, B.C.) got the wins on the mound, with Heppner improving to 5-0 on the season.

GAME ONE

The top of UBC's order got the party started right away, as Krahn hit a double on the first at-bat of the day. Aaron Marsh (Nanaimo, B.C.) followed that up with a double of his own to bring him home, and a few batters later he himself rounded home plate following an RBI single from Middlemiss.

The T-Birds continued to add to their lead in the middle innings, scoring on fielder's choices in both the third and fifth before Zarowny launched a solo home run in the top of the sixth.

Entering the final frame up 7-2, the 'Birds decided they needed even more separation. The ninth thus began with consecutive singles from Trent Lenihan (White Rock, B.C.), Jonny McGill (Richmond, B.C.) and Middlemiss, the last of which scored the team's eighth run of the game. Yip then walked to load the bases, which were promptly cleared by the combo of a Abbotsford, B.C., native David Draayers’ RBI groundout and a Zarowny two-RBI triple. Krahn polished things off with one more RBI single for good measure to make it 12-2.

Heppner gave up just three hits in his seven innings of work, striking out 12 (season-high) of the 23 batters he faced. The third-year starter has allowed just four earned runs in his last 25 innings.

UBC beat Warner Pacific 10-2 in the second game of their doubleheader on Saturday. Photo: UBC Communications

GAME TWO

The second game of the day – and fourth of the series – began quite differently from the previous one, as it was the home team who struck first. With runners on second and third, a Warner Pacific single compounded by a UBC throwing error scored two, putting the 'Birds in an early hole. Daniel Orfaly (White Rock, B.C.) clamped down on the mound after that, however, allowing just four hits and no more runs over the next five innings.

In the batter's box, it was Marsh who tied up the score in the top of the third. First, he smacked an RBI double to centre field, before then getting home himself on a wild pitch the very next at-bat. Neither team was able to score for quite a while after that play, with the two sides combining to leave 10 runners on base between the third and eight innings.

The ninth, though, was a different story. The Knights began to crack slightly under the pressure, allowing UBC to load the bases with just one out following an error, hit by pitch and walk. That brought up Krahn, and the Langley native notched one for the highlight reel with a grand slam to fire the 'Birds in front.

That was not all the scoring for the inning, as the Thunderbirds scored on three straight at-bats a little later with a Middlemiss RBI single, a Yip two-run double and a sacrifice fly from Stephen Waters (Toronto, Ont.). The eight-run outburst turned a nailbiter into a blowout 10-2 win as the T-Birds showed their sky-high potential.

Brock was lights out on the mound in relief, picking up his second victory of the season while retiring all nine batters he faced, striking out six of them. That included five strikeouts in the eighth and ninth innings to close things out.

The Thunderbirds are back in action after a quick rest on Tuesday, in a non-conference road game against the NCAA Division I side Seattle Redhawks. After that it's a home series against College of Idaho from April 4 to April 6, the start of eight games in a row at home.