UBC sweeps doubleheader

UBC swept a doubleheader from the College of Idaho Yotes on Saturday. Photo: Vamsi Nadella, UBC Athletics

April 11, 2026

By Toby Kerr

UBC Communications

VANCOUVER – The UBC Thunderbirds (27-12, 21-6) defeated the College of Idaho Yotes (23-15, 14-13) twice on Saturday, sweeping their doubleheader and taking a 3-0 lead in their four-game series to clinch the series victory.

The 'Birds overcame a two-run deficit to take the opener 6-3, before eventually blowing open a pitcher's duel in game two to win 8-0.

"The starting pitching was really good, which takes a lot of pressure off of the offence," reflected UBC head coach Chris Pritchett, after game two. "I think it took us a while to adjust in the second game, there were a lot of changeups and we were out front of everything. But with a couple of good at bats, a bunt, we just manufactured a couple of runs, eventually got a bit of breathing room, and kind of coasted from there."

Both starters were outstanding for UBC, with James Brock (Burnaby, B.C.) going 7 2/3 innings in game one and allowing just two earned runs. Myles Chamberlain (Victoria, B.C.) followed that up with an even more impressive start in game two, scattering five hits across seven shutout innings without issuing a walk.

"I think overall the most solid part of our team is our pitching, as they go, we go," mused Pritchett. "They've been pretty good all year, so I'm hoping we can keep it up. Our offence keeps getting better, so if we can catch the ball we'll be in good shape."

Starter Calvin Euper took a no-hit bid into the fifth inning for the Yotes in game two, while Darren Smith was CI's most dangerous man at the dish on the day, notching multiple hits in game one and the only extra-base knock against Chamberlain in game two.

Game One

The Yotes got on the board first, scoring in each of the opening two innings. CI took advantage of a two-base error to tally on a sac fly in the first before stringing together a walk, hit by pitch and two infield singles in the second to take a 2-0 lead.

Contrasting the Yotes' small-ball scoring, the T-Birds answered in the bottom of the second with a massive, first-pitch, solo home run from Kellen Bourne (Calgary, Alta.) that slammed off the batter's eye in dead centre field.

The T-Birds took the lead in the bottom of the fourth, with Bourne being the catalyst once again. He singled through the right side to open the inning, stole second, and eventually came around to score on a Lou Fujiwara ground out. Another RBI ground out later, UBC was up 3-2.

With Brock keeping the Yotes' bats quiet after his tough-luck first two innings, the T-Birds added to their lead in the sixth. With two outs, Kansai Sugimoto won a seven-pitch battle with Kaydon Sandow by legging out an infield single to second base. Next up, Braeden Scott (Vancouver, B.C.) stroked a double to the right-center gap and a chugging Sugimoto got the wave home to try to score from first. The Yotes' relay was excellent, but in a bang-bang play at the plate the 'Birds' leadoff hitter was able to get his hand in just under the tag to put his team up 4-2.

The blue and gold built their lead in the seventh, with Jordan Stewart (Vancouver, B.C.) coming off the bench to knock a two-RBI single through the right side to make it 6-2.

The Yotes made it interesting by tallying three straight hits in the eighth, with Corbin Sterner scoring Bryce Mahlke on a double to left, which ended Brock's day. However, T-Birds' reliever Mason Chien (Langley, B.C.) immediately put down the threat by coaxing a soft grounder to third to end the inning, UBC still up 6-3.

Chien would close out the rest of the game without allowing a hit to earn his second save of the season.

Game Two

The T-Birds took the lead early on in game two, playing some small ball of their own to scratch across a run in the bottom of the first without the benefit of a hit.

That home side did not find that first hit against CI starter Calvin Euper until the fifth inning, as he was locked in a pitcher's duel with UBC starter Chamberlain, aided by spectacular defensive plays on both sides.

In the third inning, uber-versatile Yotes second baseman Caden Casagrande (who had caught game one) made one of the best catches imaginable from that position. On a dead sprint into right field, the senior made a seemingly blind over-the-shoulder grab to keep Euper's no-hitter intact.

'Birds' shortstop Lou Fujiwara made multiple standout plays of his own. In that same inning, Fujiwara dove to his right and picked the ball cleanly, before spinning and making a dead-on throw to second to get the lead Yotes runner. The play drew a huge reaction from the Tourmaline West crowd.

In the fifth, Fujiwara showed he can handle his bat as well as his glove. After back-to-back walks to open the inning, Matt Vrlak (Vancouver, B.C.) laid an attempted sac bunt down so perfectly along the third base line that it became a base hit to load the bases. It was also UBC's first hit of the game. Fujiwara then stroked a line drive into the left-centre field gap to clear the bases and put the T-Birds up 4-0. He would eventually come in to score on Midland, Ont., native Josh Cote's second sac fly of the game to push the lead to five.

The blue and gold's third hit of the game scored their sixth run, as Vrlak slashed an RBI triple to the right field corner with one out in the sixth inning. He would score on an RBI single from Sugimoto, who in turn came home on an RBI single from David Krahn (Langley, B.C.), putting UBC up 8-0.

Chamberlain was pulled from the game after throwing seven scoreless innings. Lukas Kaufmann (Regina, Sask.) entered in relief and tossed two perfect frames to close out the big win.

"Playing four games in two or three days is tough," said Pritchett. "It's an early one tomorrow, so it's about bringing energy. It's like game one, often all about how you come out here. We're getting pretty good at that, but it's hard to sweep a good team, so it'll be a lot of work tomorrow."

The series finale is set for 11:00 a.m. (P.T.) on Sunday back at Tourmaline West.