SPRINGFIELD, Ore.  –  Bushnell University split the four-game non-conference series with the University of British Columbia, recording an 8-4 victory in Saturday's opener before falling 7-2 in game four.
 
Head Coach Tommy Richards said, "It's tough to end the series with a loss. We have a lot to learn from the weekend. We need to be steadier in all three phases. We showed glimpses of being good in each phase, but we need four games worth of that effort and focus. UBC is a good club who isn't going to beat themselves."
 
Trevor Hammond pitched five shutout innings for the Beacons (6-3), allowing just one hit in a tight contest to hold off the Thunderbirds (8-7) in Saturday's opener. UBC took game four, using a four-run eighth to secure the game and force a series split.

Hammond has not allowed a run through 10.2 innings of work this season and has given up just four hits.
 
"Today I took it one pitch at a time and trusted all my preparation," said Hammond. "We played well as a team, but there's a lot more work to do. There is room for improvement to get where we want to be."
 
Game 1: Bushnell 8, British Columbia 4
 
Jordan Wilson kicked off the day on a high note, sending a solo homer to left to put the first run of the day on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first.
 
The Thunderbirds put the next three runs on the board before the Beacons tied it up in the bottom of the third. Cayden Delozier hit a two-out double to right center, driving in two, including Brendan Frazier, who scored all the way from first.
 
UBC took a one-run lead fourth, but Delozier grabbed another RBI on a single to right in the bottom of the frame to tie the game at 4-4. Brandon Reed gave the Beacons a 5-4 lead with a two-out RBI-single.
 
A critical defensive play in the sixth by Delozier saved a game-tying run as the third baseman collected a grounder and decided to throw out the runner at home. The Beacons scored the final three on a pair of sacrifice flies and a wild pitch.
 
Hammond (1-0) relieved Ethan Paulson in the fifth and pitched five scoreless innings, allowing just one hit. 
 
Ryan Beitel (0-3) pitched five innings for the Thunderbirds, allowing five runs on nine hits, and struck out seven. Brett Corbeth, who was the designated hitter to start the game, pitched three innings in relief, allowing three runs (two earned) on three hits.
 
Delozier led the Beacons at the plate, finishing 3-for-5 with three RBI.
 
Game 2: British Columbia 7, Bushnell 2
 
UBC led 3-2 entering the top of the eighth before putting up four runs in the frame with three coming on a homer by Mike Fitzsimmons. The Beacons were held to one hit through the final two innings. Daniel Sereda entered in the eighth for the Thunderbirds, allowing two runners to reach before striking out the next three batters.
 
Bushnell scored a run in the fifth on a sacrifice bunt from Frazier and one more in the sixth on a sacrifice fly by Jake Stoner.
 
Jeff Fripp hit 3-for-4 to lead the Beacons at the plate. Adam Sabatino (0-1) got the start for Bushnell, allowing three runs (two earned) in six innings.
 
Ryan Heppner (3-1) earned the pitching win, giving up just two runs on seven hits in 5.1 innings of work. Brendan Logan, Sereda, and Vic Domingo split the remaining 3.2 frames.
 
Up next, the Beacons host Corban University for a four-game non-conference series on March 3-4.