ST.CATHARINES, Ont.--The Brock University baseball team concluded their 2013 OUA regular season with a split in double-header action vs. the Ryerson Rams at George Taylor Field on Saturday afternoon with Brock taking Game One by a score of 3-1 and Ryerson winning Game Two by a score of 4-1. With the split, the Badgers clinched first place in the OUA standings, finishing the 2013 season with an 18-6 record in conference play.
              
In Game one, the Badgers sent LHP Luke Miller (Newmarket, Ont.) to the mound for his 5th start in the OUA this season and was his normal, consistent self throwing 5 innings allowing 5 hits, 1 earned run, while striking out 2. Miller exited the game in the 5th inning with a slim 2-1 lead, but Kyle Taylor (Ajax, Ont.) and Phil Owen (Richmond Hill, Ont.) would combine to allow no hits while striking out 3 in the final 2 innings of the ball game to preserve the victory for Miller. With the save, Owen records his 5th of the season as he continues to be the anchor in the Badgers bullpen.

On the offensive side of things, Ben Kirby (Burlington, Ont.) and Dan Nicoletta (Newmarket, Ont.) each drove in one run a piece, while Justin Gideon (Pickering, Ont.)  smacked a solo home-run in the 3rd inning to put the Badgers ahead 2-1 which was enough for the trio of Miller, Taylor, and Owen to work with to earn the 3-1 victory. Captain Ricky Ferri (Niagara Falls, Ont.) also had a solid day going 1-for-2 with 1 walk and 2 stolen bases. The win in Game One was what the Badgers came for, as the win would officially clinch 1st place in the standings regardless of the results in Game 2.

In Game two, Head Coach Jeff Lounsbury wasn't afraid to play a little bit more strategically with first place locked up as he looked to use the game more as preparation for OUA playoffs coming up October 18th-20th.

Badgers ace Paul McKenna (Oakville, Ont.) took the mound for Brock but only pitched 3.0 innings of no-hit, one walk baseball in order to stay loose and rested heading into next week's playoff action.  Heading into the 4th inning, the game was deadlocked at 0-0. LHP Daniel Veres (Burlington, Ont.) entered the game in relief for McKenna in what was his first appearance since dislocating his non-throwing shoulder in a September game vs. Queens. Veres showed the rust, allowing 4 earned runs on 3 hits and 2 walks. Veres would work his way out of the inning though, limiting the damage. After that, Ryan Beckett (Tiny, Ont.), Jeff Baggaley (Whitby, Ont.) and Matt Watson (Niagara Falls, Ont.) threw 1 inning a piece combining to allow just 1 hit and no walks through the final 3 innings of the ballgame. The 4-0 lead was all Ryerson starting pitcher Quinn Cumming needed to work with though, as he threw a complete game allowing 6 hits and 1 run through 7.0 innings while striking out 4.

The Badgers struggled offensively in Game Two, stranding a staggering 11 runners on base with Tim Lawson (Oakville, Ont.) the only one able to convert, driving in Brock's sole run of the ball game on a sacrifice play. Justin Gideon continued his hot play at the plate, going 2-for-4 with 2 stolen bases in Game 2. Brock shortstop Jordan Grant (Mississauga, Ont.) also had a solid day at the plate in Game Two, going 2-for-4 in the loss to Ryerson.

The Badgers are now OUA regular season champs for the 3rd season in a row, but are already looking forward to the OUA Playoffs in Guelph, Ont. next weekend starting on Friday the 18th knowing full well that anything can happen in playoff baseball. Brock will take a quick 2 day break for Thanksgiving before heading back to George Taylor Field on Tuesday for practice.