 Photo by Wilson Wong Shawn Schaefer, Brad Ashman, and Brendan Rolfe combined for the two-hit shutout. Schaefer struck out four, and Ashman retired all six batters he faced. Ashman got his 24th career win because Schaefer only went three innings, one less than the four innings required for a starter to get a win in a seven-inning game.
Second game: Richard Smythe picked a good time for his second career home run, and his first of this season. He came to bat with no outs in the bottom of the ninth, Connor Janes on first (Janes reached on a bunt single), and the Thunderbirds trailing 3-0. Smythe hit one over the left field fence, bringing the score to 3-2 and still no outs. The Thunderbirds then proceeded to load the bases with one out, on singles by Davey Wallace and Mark Capone, and a walk drawn by Tyler Hughes. Johnny Yiu drew another walk to tie the game at 3-3. Steve Bell-Irving flied out for the second out, and it wasn't deep enough to bring in Capone on third base. The next batter, Ian Prescott, was hit by a pitch to bring in the winning run.
The last-inning effort by UBC spoiled a valiant pitching effort by Warrior starter Jason Braun, who, prior to today, was 0-4 with a 9.71 ERA. Braun frustrated Thunderbird hitters for eight innings, scattering three hits and walking five. The Thunderbirds left the bases loaded in the second inning. However, Braun didn't have enough left in the tank to go into the ninth inning, and the Warriors, who have only eight pitchers on their roster, simply ran out of arms. They used three relievers in the ninth; Zeke Clayton (pitched an inning on Friday), Derek Stokes (two innings in Saturday's first game), and Bryan Bernard (two innings on Friday). Clayton gave up four hits, including the Smythe home run, and Bernard hit Prescott to end the game.
There's more to this story. There were some differences of opinion between the UBC coaching staff and the umpires on some calls; in particular, a call at the plate in the second inning when the Warriors scored their third run on a wild pitch. UBC starter Dave Pasquali was covering the plate, and the baserunnner was ruled safe on a close play. UBC Coach Terry McKaig was ejected from the game between the sixth and seventh inning, and Pitching Coach Shawn Corness was ejected a half inning later when he went to coach at first base. Assistant Coach Cav Whitely handled things the rest of the way, and Mike Loizides filled in as the first base coach.
Pasquali, who got his second career start and his longest career outing (six innings), allowed seven hits, three of them in the first inning. He pitched his way out of a bases-loaded-with-no-outs jam in the fourth inning. Andrew "Guy" LaFleur pitched three hitless innings, and got his fourth win of the season.
Box scores and play-by-plays: first game
second game
Story from UBC Athletics site: T-Birds rally for sweep on senior day
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