The Brock University baseball team (26-3 overall, 16-1 OUA) won both games of the doubleheader over the Laurier Golden Hawks Sunday afternoon at Bechtel Park.
With the two victories, 6-1 and 6-5, the Badgers clinch first place in the OUA standings, and earn a bye in the first round of the OUA Championships being hosted by McMaster University.
In Game One, two of the OUA's best pitchers in Brock's
Justin Ayles and Laurier's Brett Van Pelt went head to head. Ayles threw seven strong innings allowng one run on eight hits while striking out five for his sixth victory of the regular season. Van Pelt went 6 1/3 allowing three runs on sixth while striking out six and and walking six in the loss.
Justin Gideon led the Badgers offense going 3-for-5, highlighted by a two-run triple in the ninth. He also added three RBI and three stolen bases.
Ricky Ferri (2-for-4, SB) and
Blair Gignac (2-for-5, RBI) collected two hits each.
Koddi Quick and
Ben Kirby both chipped in with RBI singles.
In Game Two, Gideon continued to shine going 3-for-3 with a solo homerun and two stolen bases. He finished the day going 6-for-8 (.750 AVG), with a homerun, triple, four RBI and five stolen bases.
Phil Steer was 2-for-3 with a double, RBI and two stolen bases while
Quinton Twohey was 2-for-4, with the game winning RBI in the ninth. Adding single hits were Ferri (1-for-4, RBI),
Ryan Laird (1-for-4) and
Marcus Beal (1-for-3).
Phil Owen picked up the victory after coming in relief in the fifth inning. He threw 2 1/3 innings allowing no runs on one hit while striking out two.
The Badgers close out the OUA regular season this Wednesday at 4pm when they host the Queen's Gaels at George Taylor Field.
