CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. - The P.E.I. Junior Islanders split a doubleheader versus the Alpines in Saint John, N.B. on Sunday, winning 6-3 in Game 1 then dropping the second game 8-6.
With the split, the Islanders moved to 11-11 and secured at least a third-place finish.
P.E.I. has two games left in the regular season, set for this weekend against the league-leading Metro Mudcats (16-4), and has a chance to catch the second-place Chatham Ironmen (12-9).
If P.E.I. wins its last two games and Chatham drops its last three, the Islanders get home field advantage for the best-of-five semifinal series between the teams starting Monday, Aug. 6.
Saint John (6-16) and the Fredericton Royals (9-14) meet in the best 2-of-3 quarter-final beginning Wednesday, Aug. 1 in Fredericton. Winner gets the Mudcats in the other semifinal, which also starts Aug. 6.
Game 1
Islanders, 6 Alpines 3
Islander ace Brett Hicken (5-1) went the distance scattering seven hits and striking out five to earn the opening win, his third straight year of at least five victories.
P.E.I. jumped on Alpines starter Nathan Betts for seven consecutive hits with two out in the first, leading to a five-run frame and the Isles never looked back. John Savidant’s bases clearing double did the major damage.
Ryne MacIsaac had three hits and Patrick Gallant had two to pace the P.E.I. attack.
Dawson Griffin had two hits for the Alpines.
Game 2
Alpines, 8 Islanders, 6
In the nightcap, Saint John ran out a 6-2 lead after three innings helped by two bad hop singles that bounded over the head of Islander shortstop Matt Barlow’s head and led to three runs.
The Islanders tied the game 6-6, sparked by Josh Myers two-run triple in the fourth which chased Alpine starter Dawson Griffin.
But Matt Nason’s double put the Alpines up 7-6 in the fifth and added and insurance run in the sixth as Ryan Nason held the Isles off the scoreboard over the last three innings despite walking five.
Nolan Hicken took the loss in relief of starter Porter Smith for the Islanders.
MacIsaac had two more hits, while Jed Noonan, Gallant, Savidant and Nolan Hicken each had a hit.
