VANCOUVER, B.C. – Shane Spencer nearly went the distance on Saturday, one day after Drake George’s complete game, and Charlie Updegrave went yard twice to secure the series win against UBC with a doubleheader sweep. The wins pushed the LC State winning streak to 11 games.
Spencer tossed 8.2 innings in game one’s 3-1 win and Jace Hanson was key out of the bullpen in the 8-6 victory in game two. The wins improved the LC State record to 30-9 overall and 16-3 in Cascade Conference play. UBC falls to 15-8 in CCC play to drop the Thunderbirds to third place in the conference.
GAME ONE: No. 9 LC State def. UBC 3-1
Spencer worked around a leadoff double in the bottom of the first inning and recorded a 1-2-3 second before striking out the side in the third. The Warrior offense went to work in the fourth with a pair of solo shots by Dominic Signorelli and Updegrave to put LC State in front. A quick inning by Spencer had the Warriors up 2-0 through four innings.
After two more strikeouts by Spencer in the fifth, Jake Gish grew the Warrior lead to 3-0 with the third solo home run of the contest. UBC threatened in the sixth, but a throw from left fielder Nick Seamons cut down a runner at the plate to keep the Thunderbirds off the board.
Spencer continued his outing in the eighth and worked the Warriors out of a jam. He retired two in the ninth before an unearned run came in to score. Cameron Smith, the first Warrior arm out of the bullpen on the weekend, struck out the lone batter he faced to end the contest and earn his fifth save.
Spencer earned his fourth win of the season after striking out eight in 8.2 innings. He did not allow an earned run.
Gish and Cabrera each tallied two hits, but all three runs came on solo shots by Signorelli, Gish, and Updegrave. Cabrera swiped two bags to give him 15 on the season.
GAME TWO: No. 9 LC State def. UBC 8-6
The Warriors jumped in front in the top of the first with a two-run double by Updegrave. Jack Sheward and Signorelli each walked before scoring on the hit. UBC answered with a pair to even the score after the first frame.
LC State regained the lead in the next half inning. Pu’ukani De Sa and Bulla Ephan tallied back-to-back singles and Seamons put the Warriors back on top with a three-run blast.
Starter Decker Stedman settled in with a pair of punchout in the second inning but UBC tacked on a run in the third. A double play and flyout got the Warriors out the inning with a 5-3 advantage.
LC State added a run in the fourth with a short two-out burst. Sheward drilled a double to right center then scored on a base hit by Signorelli to make it 6-3.
The Thunderbirds made it a back-and-forth with a three-run fourth inning. Jace Hanson came out of the bullpen and struck out a batter to get the Warriors out of a jam in a 6-6 contest.
Updegrave gave LC State back the lead with a solo shot to lead off the fifth inning. Cabrera doubled and De Sa was hit by a pitch to keep the frame going before a single by Magnum Hofstetter made it 8-6.
A strikeout by Hanson left a UBC runner on third in the seventh and a double play ended the game. Hanson earned the win after striking out six in 5.1 innings of relief. He did not walk a batter or allow a run.
Updegrave, De Sa and Ephan each had two hits while Seamons and Updegrave each drove in three.
UP NEXT
The Warriors wrap up the series in Vancouver on Sunday at 11 a.m.
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