Riley Tompkins (Lynnwood, Wash.) led off the ninth inning with a double to left-center field. Nate Roberts (Silverdale, Wash.) stroked a single up the middle, but UBC second baseman Alex White dove and smothered the ball, keeping pinch runner Eric Yardley (Richland, Wash.) from coming around to score the tying run.
Pinch hitter Alex Kuniyoshi (Shoreline, Wash.) drew a walk to load the bases. Mike Malland (Mukilteo, Wash.), also in a pinch hitting role, sent a line drive straight into the glove of Thunderbird reliever Shawn Hetherington, who proceeded to throw out Yardley at third base for the double play. Hetherington then struck out Bryndon Ecklund (Montesano, Wash.) to end the game and pick up his fifth save of the season.
British Columbia (26-6) got on the board in the fourth inning when Nic Lendvoy singled through the left side and Blake Carruthers was hit by a pitch. After the runners moved up to second and third on a wild pitch, Sean Pisarski drove in Lendvoy with a single up the middle. White followed with a groundout to the right side that scored Carruthers and gave the Thunderbirds a 2-0 lead.
SeattleU cut its deficit in half in the sixth inning as Cullen Hendrickson (Auburn, Wash.) was hit by a pitch and advanced to second on a balk. Doug Buser (Orinda, Calif.) sent a single to right field that advanced Hendrickson to third base, and Josh Kalalau (University Place, Wash.) followed with a fly ball to deep left field, scoring Hendrickson. Buser stole second base to put another runner in scoring position, but Taylor King forced Tompkins to ground out to end the rally.
The Thunderbirds had a chance to extend their lead in the eighth inning, as Andrew Firth reached on an error, Lendvoy singled through the left side, and Carruthers walked to load the bases. SeattleU relief pitcher Max Whieldon (Trabuco Hills, Calif.) struck out Pisarski to end the inning and keep the Redhawks close.
Arlo Evasick (Port Ludlow, Wash.) pitched 7 2/3 innings of solid baseball, not allowing a hit until the fourth inning and giving up only five hits and one walk while striking out five batters. Whieldon made another important relief appearance, allowing only a walk in 1 1/3 innings of work.
British Columbia used six different pitchers in the game, with Sheldon McDonald earning the victory after allowing just a walk in one inning on the mound. Eric Brown started the game and struck out four Redhawk batters while giving up two hits in two innings. King finished his night by giving up just one hit and one walk in 2 2/3 innings of work while striking out two batters.
Roberts went 3-for-4 during the game, the only SeattleU batter to earn multiple hits against the Thunderbirds. British Columbia was limited to five hits in the game, led by Lendvoy with a 2-for-4 performance.
Seattle University (3-21) will look to break through into the win column this Thursday, April 8, against Pacific Lutheran at Bannerwood Park beginning at 4 p.m., followed by a contest against Concordia University Friday, April 9, also starting at 4 p.m. at Bannerwood Park. Live stats and live audio for both games will be available on GoSeattleU.com.