CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. – The Holland College Hurricanes baseball squad is off to a winning start in their Canadian Collegiate Baseball Association regular season.
The team swept a doubleheader from the Saint Mary’s Huskies Saturday in Charlottetown and two games from the Acadia Axemen Sunday in Nova Scotia’s Annapolis Valley.
The Hurricanes, who have 14 P.E.I.-born players on their 24-man roster, took Saturday’s opener 10-4 and fought off a Huskies surge to claim the second contest 7-6.
On Sunday, the Hurricanes used a nine-run sixth inning to earn a 14-4 win over the Axemen in Game 1 before scoring three insurance runs in the seventh to give them a 10-5 win in the finale.
“It was a great atmosphere for opening weekend and we are certainly pleased with the results,” said Hurricanes head coach Andrew MacNevin. “As a group we’re looking forward to our progression as we approach the national championship in October.”
The Hurricanes, 4-0 on the season, are back in action on Sunday when they visit UNB in Fredericton, N.B., for a pair of games.
Hurricanes 10 Huskies 4
Hurricanes right-hander Ryan Abraham worked around three Huskies hits and a hit batter to limit the damage to one run in the first inning. The Halifax native didn’t allow another hit in his four innings of work as he picked up the win.
Parker Gallant allowed three runs in three innings of relief.
Josh McDonald paced the offence with a 2-for-3 effort, including a two-run triple in the Hurricanes six-run third inning. Summerside shortstop Jay Oram was 2-for-5 with a triple and two RBI while Jake Lonar was 2-for-4 with a double and a run.
Cody Pick took the loss.
Hurricanes 7 Huskies 6
The Huskies plated four runs in the top of the seventh and stranded the bases loaded as the Hurricanes salvaged a 7-6 win in the second game.
Tyler Johnston scattered four Saint Mary’s hits during his six innings of two-run ball, including one unearned, for the win. The Cardigan native recorded five strikeouts.
Andrew Tingley was roughed up for all four seventh-inning Saint Mary’s runs while Brett Brittany recorded the last two outs to pick up the save.
The Hurricanes scored six runs in their third inning for the second consecutive game and added the eventual winning run in the sixth. Luke Robison (2-for-4) and Oram (2-for-4 with an RBI and a run) paced a balanced offence.
Hurricanes 14 Axemen 4
A 5-4 Hurricanes lead quickly turned into a 14-4 win over Acadia after a nine-run sixth inning for Holland College.
Hurricanes starter Chandler Laporte went five innings to earn the win, allowing four runs and striking out five. Allan Saunders pitched the game’s final inning for the ‘Canes.
Wes Harding took the loss.
Oram (3-for-5, three RBI), Brittney (3-for-4, RBI), Lonar (2-for-3) and Matt Barlow (2-for-3, RBI) led the offence.
Hurricanes 10 Axemen 5
Entering the seventh inning with a 7-5 lead, the Hurricanes scored three insurance runs to give Holland College a 10-5 win.
Noah Stewart was credited with the win with an inning of relief after Charles MacLellan allowed two earned runs on a hit in four innings. He struck out six. Tanner Banks contributed two innings from the bullpen.
Adam Ferguson took the loss.
Oram (3-for-4), McDonald (2-for-4, RBI) and Robison (2-for-4) were the top Hurricanes.
