The VIU Mariners got enough breaks in the rain to get in all four games of opening weekend.
Vancouver Island University's baseball club started the Canadian Collegiate Baseball Conference season by splitting a series against the visiting Prairie Baseball Academy Dawgs this past Friday through Sunday, March 21-23, at Serauxmen Stadium.
The M's lost the season opener 10-3, then won 3-1, lost 8-2, and finished with a 3-2 victory.
The first game was noteworthy for Ryder Duncan's home run.
In VIU's first win of the season, Landon Bowers, Logan MacDicken and Anders Lindgren each had two hits and Ryan Wilkie earned the 'W' on the mound, giving up one hit and one run over 4 1/3 innings. Connor Dawson picked up the save.
In the game after that, Trevor Nicoll went 4-for-4 at the plate with two doubles, but it wasn't enough.
The series finale saw starting pitcher Bennett Mason lead the way, throwing five shutout innings and giving up four hits while striking out eight, and Alex McLauchlan was credited with the save. Duncan led the M's offence, going 2-for-3 at the plate.
GAME ON … VIU has this coming weekend off and will then visit the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack on April 5-6. Next home action for the Mariners is April 18-20 against the Okanagan Coyotes.
