REDS Win 2 Of 3 Weekend Games

(HALIFAX, NS) It was another action-packed weekend for the UNB REDS. The team traveled to Nova Scotia to play the Acadia Axemen and Dalhousie Tigers in Week Two of the Atlantic Collegiate Baseball Association season.

In Saturday’s opener, at Acadia, Aaron Dunn made his first start of the season, allowing six hits and two runs over four innings and striking out one. Adam Wenzel threw three innings in relief. 

The REDS collected 11 hits in their 13-5 victory.

In game two, it was a family effort on the REDS mound as brothers Rylan and Waylan Matchett took the assignment. Rylan lasted five innings, allowing eight hits and seven runs while striking out five to earn his second win of the season. Waylon threw two innings in relief, recording the last six outs to earn the save. 

The game was tied at seven, with UNB REDS batting in the top of the sixth, when Alex Rushton singled, scoring one run and beginning a rally that resulted in a 10-7 win.

“It’s always going to be a fun day at the ballpark whenever you see a set of brothers have the opportunity to go and pitch their way through a gritty win,” said Jack Ryan, senior first baseman for the REDS. “We really wanted this one to end our day on the right note and they were able to pull through for us. It’s a cool dynamic on team featuring a couple brother combos with the Rushtons and Matchetts, all very different players, but all have found their way to impact our games when we’ve needed them to.”

On Sunday, facing Dalhousie in another scheduled double-header, the REDS fell 15-0 in a sideways affair, while the final game of the weekend was rained out.

“We didn’t come with our best effort on Sunday,” said REDS manager Mark MacNevin. “Dal has come ready to play this year after a big recruiting effort and a mix of old and new players. We’ll adjust what needs to be adjusted and come with a stronger performance against them next weekend.”

UNB remains first in the ACBA standings with a record of 5-and-2, and will play host to the Axemen and Tigers this weekend, in double-headers on Saturday and Sunday. Both days, games are scheduled to begin at 1:00 and 3:30pm.

RECAP AND PHOTO: Evan Richtsfeld/UNB Athletics