The Holland Hurricanes finished third in the Atlantic Collegiate Baseball Association (ACBA) Championship hosted by the ‘Canes at Memorial Field in Charlottetown over the weekend. The University of New Brunswick (UNB) Reds went on to claim the championship, defeating the Acadia University Axemen in the finals with the St. Francis Xavier (St. FX) X-Men finishing fourth.

October 15, Round Robin Game 1- UNB 12, Acadia 1 (5 innings)

UNB scored six runs in the bottom of the second to kick off the tournament with a 12-1 win on Friday.  The game was stopped after five innings due to the mercy rule.

Ryan Nason took the win for UNB going four innings allowing two hits, one run, and three walks while striking out six.

Seth Routledge was the losing pitcher for Acadia allowing three hits, three runs, and a walk over one and one-third innings pitched.

Connor Hill and Matt Dignam both had two hits and three RBIs to lead the way for UNB. Doug Hassell had a single and run while Kieran Finn had an RBI double for Acadia.

October 15, Round Robin Game 2- Hurricanes 13, St. FX 3 (5 innings)

In the night cap of day one, the ‘Canes scored four in the third and six in the fifth to bring the mercy rule into play in a 13-3 win.

Jack MacKenzie threw all five innings to pick up the win for the Hurricanes. MacKenzie gave up four hits, three runs (all unearned), and four walks with four strikeouts.

Brett Baxter took the loss for St. FX allowing nine hits, seven runs, and five walks while striking out five.

Dylan Worth had three hits and three runs while Ethan McLellan had three hits, two runs, and five RBIs for the ‘Canes.

Luke Sampson had one hit, one run, and two RBIs with Jack Walsh, Michael Sampson, and Evan Whyte adding hits for St. FX.

October 16, Round Robin Game 3- UNB 10, Hurricanes 2

UNB scored runs in the first four innings then added four in the sixth to defeat the Hurricanes 10-2 on Saturday morning.

Owen Lohnes held the Hurricanes to just one hit over five innings for the win. Lohnes also gave up four walks with four strikeouts.

Cody LeBlanc was the losing pitcher for the ‘Canes going three innings, giving up seven hits, five runs, and two walks while striking out three.

Matt Nason had three hits with Adam Estey and Jack Ryan both adding two for UNB.

Ben MacDougall, Peter Keedwell and Brady Story all had hits with the last two being pinch hit singles to help the ‘Canes score two in the bottom of the sixth.

October 16, Round Robin Game 4- Acadia 15, StFX 5 (6 innings)

Acadia scored four in the second and eight in the sixth to bring the mercy rule into play for the 15-5 win in six innings.

Jackson Colbourne, Jake MacKinnon, Scott Long, and Aaron Stacey led the way offensively for Acadia, each registering two hits in the game.

The top hitters for St. FX was Ty Arsenault, going two-for-three with two RBI’s.

Dylan Brown, Ewan Galloway and Jack Walsh pitched for the X-Men, allowing a combined 12 hits in the loss.  While Jacobie Ford pitched all six innings for Acadia, allowing seven hits, five runs (four earned), striking out four and walking two.

October 16, Round Robin Game 5- UNB 4, StFX 3

In the closest game of the round robin, UNB scored two in the sixth and two in the seventh to walk-off St. FX in the 4-3 win.

Connor Ellsworth pitched a clean top of the seventh allowing one hit and striking out three to pick up the win.

Ellie MacAulay took the loss going six innings plus two batters allowing eight hits, four runs, and two walks while striking out two. Lucas Fraser took the blown save giving up two hits and an intentional walk while retiring one batter in relief.

Matt Nason had three this while Adam Estey and Connor Hill both had two hits for UNB.

Nathan Snell and Stuart Bowden both had two hits for StFX.

October 16, Round Robin Game 6- Acadia 7, Hurricanes 2

It was all to play for in the night cap on Saturday with the winner advancing to Sunday’s final to play UNB. Acadia scored seven times in the first two innings and while the ‘Canes were able to get multiple runners on in most innings they couldn’t capitalize.

Jake MacKinnon threw 125 pitches for the complete game victory allowing five hits, two runs, and five walks with four strikeouts.

Ben MacDougall took the loss for the ‘Canes allowing six hits, seven runs, and one walk with 2 strikeouts in two innings. Matt Peacock came out of the bullpen and gave the ‘Canes offense a chance as he shutout Acadia over five innings striking out eight and giving up just two hits and one walk. 

Garrett Culleton had two hits, two runs, and an RBI while Jake MacKinnon added one hit, one walk, one run, and 2 RBIs for UNB.

Dylan Worth, Ethan McLellan, Brayden Lebel, Allan Saunders, and Jack MacKenzie had one hit each for the ‘Canes with McLellan and MacKenzie driving in runs.

October 17, ACBA Championship Game- UNB 7, Acadia 6

Three runs in the opening inning for Acadia, followed by a single in the second was erased by UNB in the third, as the teams headed to the fourth in a 4-4 tie.  The Axemen once again clawed ahead when they added a run, but UNB ultimately took control in the fifth, scoring three runners to take a 7-5 lead.  Acadia applied pressure in the seventh, scoring a single run, but this was as close as they would get.

Acadia registered ten hits in the game, while UNB recorded eight.  Each team were charged with three errors in the game.

The win completed a perfect championship for UNB, finishing with a 4-0 record, while Acadia finished at 2-2.

Matt Nason led the way offensively for UNB, registering three at four at-bats, good for three RBI’s.  Acadia’s top hitters were Jackson Colbourne, Jake MacKinnon and Kieran Finn, all picking up two hits.

Keegan Gaskell took the loss on the mound for Acadia, pitching five and two-thirds innings, allowing eight hits, seven runs (five earned), striking out two and walking on.

UNB starting pitcher, Rylan Matchett earned the win, pitching three and two-thirds, allowing seven hits, five earned runs, striking out one and walking four.  He was supported by Aaron Dunn and David Bunce from the bullpen.  Dunn pitched two and a third, allowing a hit and striking out two.  While Bunce pitched an inning, allowing two hits, a run and striking out two.

With the championship victory, UNB repeats after also winning the 2019 title.

Re-watch the entire championship by visiting www.youtube.com/hollandhuricanes.

For more information on the Atlantic Collegiate Baseball Association, visit www.atlanticbaseball.ca and www.twitter.com/AtlanticCBA.

Connect with the men’s baseball Hurricanes at www.twitter.com/canesmbaseball and www.instagram.com/canesmbaseball.

For more information on the Holland Hurricanes, visit www.hollandhurricanes.com, www.facebook.com/hollandhurricanes, www.twitter.com/hc_hurricanes and www.instagram.com/hollandhurricanes.