Islanders off to 3-1 start in senior baseball

The P.E.I. Islanders are off to a 3-1 start in the New Brunswick Senior Baseball League (NBSBL).

After sweeping a doubleheader from the Chatham Ironmen in Charlottetown on May 20, the Islanders split a pair of games in Saint John, N.B., against the host Alpines on May 27.

The Alpines rallied for nine runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to erase an eight-run deficit and edge the Islanders 11-10 in the opening game. History would not repeat itself in Game 2 as the Islanders went on to post an 8-2 victory.

The Islanders return to action at Memorial Field in Charlottetown on June 3 when the Fredericton Royals (1-1) visit for a pair of games beginning at 2 p.m.

ISLANDERS 8 ALPINES 2

Brady Arsenault pitched sixhit ball over five innings to earn the victory. Arsenault’s line also read two earned runs, one walk and two strikeouts. Ben Macdougall pitched scoreless and hitless ball over the final two innings, giving only one walk while fanning one.

Offensively, Tyson Mcinnis went 3-for-3, including a run scored, walk and a run batted in (RBI) to lead the Islanders. Ryne Macisaac (2-3, run scored, walk, RBI) and Scott Harper (2-4, run scored) also had multiple-hit performances.

Devon Thomas (2-2, run scored, RBI) and Ryan Van Snick (2-3, run scored, RBI) were tops at the dish for the Alpines (2-1).

Jay Johnston took the pitching loss. Johnston gave up five runs (four earned), seven hits, two walks and struck out four in four innings of work.

ALPINES 11 ISLANDERS 10

Aydon Fournier (4-4, two runs scored), double, RBI) and Devon Thomas (2-4, run scored, RBI) swung hot bats for the Alpines, who trailed 8-0 after 5 ½ innings and 10-2 going into the bottom of the seventh.

Logan Macdougall (3-5, two runs scored, two doubles, RBI), Jonathan Arsenault (2-3, run scored), Taylor Larkin (2-3, run scored, walk) and Logan Gallant (2-4, two doubles, three RBI) were the Islanders’ top hitters.

Ben Macdougall took the pitching loss in relief for the Islanders after giving up one earned run, two hits and one walk in one-third of an inning.

Jordan Stevenson started for the Islanders and tossed five innings of scoreless, two-hit ball. Stevenson did not issue any free passes and struck out nine.

Jack Mackenzie took over from Stevenson and gave up 10 earned runs, eight hits, two walks and fanned two in just under two innings.

Ben Cairns earned the pitching win after giving up two earned runs and two hits in one innings of relief. Nathan Betts provided the Alpines with five innings of one-run ball in relief of starter Sherman Yeo, who allowed six earned runs, four hits and three walks in one inning of work.