FREDERICTON N.B. – It was another strong showing for the Holland Hurricanes’ men’s baseball team last weekend.
The Hurricanes used a seven-run fifth inning to win Game 1 of a doubleheader against the University of New Brunswick Reds 16-6, before a four-run first inning in Game 2 sparked them to a 14-1 victory.
The two wins move the Hurricanes to 6-0 (won-lost) on the season – the best record in the Canadian Collegiate Baseball Association (CCBA). Carleton University holds the next-best record this season at 4-1.
Against UNB, winning pitcher Ryan Abraham allowed five hits and three earned runs over four innings for the Hurricanes in Game 1. Chandler LaPorte pitched the final two innings for the Hurricanes, allowing three earned runs and four hits.
Jay Oram led the Hurricanes’ offence with a home run and five runs batted in. Charles MacLellan, who also had a home run, went 2-for-4 at the plate and drove in three runs.
Brett Brittany, Curtis McGregor, Jake Lonar and Matt Barlow all went 2-for-4 at the plate while Tanner Banks added three stolen bases in the win.
The Hurricanes led 4-0 through two innings and 4-3 after four innings, before breaking the game wide open with seven runs in the fifth, a single in the sixth and four more in the seventh on their way to the 16-6 win.
In Game 2, Tyler Johnston pitched for four shutout innings for the Hurricanes. Allan Saunders pitched the fifth, Parker Gallant the sixth and MacLellan the seventh.
Josh McDonald (3-4, home run, four RBIs), Matt Barlow (2-3) and Jay Oram (2-5, home run) were tops at the plate for Holland College.
The Hurricanes pulled away early, leading 6-0 after two, scoring single runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth before exploding for five in the seventh.
The Hurricanes visit the Dalhousie Tigers for a doubleheader in Halifax, N.S., on Saturday, and host the St. Francis Xavier X-Men for their final two home games of the season at Memorial Field on Sunday at 1 and 3:30 p.m.
