All tied up

Stevenson, MacIntyre, Arsenault lead Islanders to home victory against Royals

The Charlottetown Gaudet’s Auto Body Islanders made the most of their chances Sunday to win a pitchers’ duel and get back in their New Brunswick Senior Baseball League quarterfinal.

Jordan Stevenson struck out seven and didn't walk a batter while throwing a three-hit shutout in a 3-0 victory against the Fredericton Royals at Memorial Field.

The best-of-five series is now tied 1-1 with Game 3 tonight at 8 p.m. in Fredericton, N.B.

Ben Runyon was tagged with Sunday’s loss after allowing three runs, including a firstinning unearned run, on two hits and four walks. He struck out 10.

“We had to win this game there’s no doubt about it,” said Isles’ head coach Doug Hines. “This had to be a team effort today because we were nicked up . . . (but) everybody rallied.”

The home side scored in the bottom of the first without recording a hit.

Avery Arsenault walked, stole second and went to third when catcher Corey Kavanagh’s throw to second went into centre field. Arsenault scored on a wild pitch.

“He’s been doing it all year for us,” Hines said of Arsenault in the leadoff spot. “The first run in a game like this (is key), we’re not chasing it all day.”

The Islanders tacked on two more in the bottom of the fifth.

Nick MacPhail and Jonathan Arsenault walked on full-count pitches to start the bottom of the inning.

“Nick has a big bat, but he also has a tremendous eye . .

. and that was a clutch walk,” Hines said.

Arsenault was called on to bunt but could not get it down. He fell behind in the count but

battled Runyon for the walk. Morgan Murphy executed a textbook sacrifice bunt and Jesse MacIntyre broke up the no-hitter by blooping a two-run single over the drawn-in infield to give Stevenson a 3-0 lead he wouldn't give up.

“With Jordan on the mound, you feel good when you get two or three runs,” Hines said. “We’ve been struggling, so (we) kind of switched the lineup and gave these guys a chance and every one of them produced.”

The Royals got back-to-back singles from Tanner Banks and Kavanagh with one out in the seventh-inning before Stevenson induced a ground ball to second baseman Kody Matthews, who started the 4-6-3 double play to end the game.

Adam Estey lead off the game with the Royals’ other hit while Dillon Doucette led off the sixth inning with a double for the Isles’ other hit.

ROYALS 5, ISLANDERS 1

Fredericton scored four insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to win the opener 5-1 Saturday in Fredericton, N.B.

Kaleb Bowman threw a onehit shutout and struck out nine for the victory. Jake Beck allowed four runs, three of them unearned, on five hits and two walks in taking the loss. He struck out three in five innings. Jack Kraft allowed a run on two hits and a walk in an inning of relief.

Logan Gallant’s single was the Isles’ lone hit. Banks led Fredericton with two hits, a walk and an RBI.