The Brock Badgers softball team competed at the 2023 Ontario University Softball Championships on Saturday (Oct 21.), picking up a win in the consolation bracket.
Brock defeated the Windsor Lancers who finished second in the West division and the Badgers are hoping to carry some of the momentum from that win into next season.
"We are very proud of this team. They worked hard and relied on each other throughout this season," said head coach Raegan Turner. "They showed a lot of fight and resilience throughout this season and during the OUS championships. Each athlete contributed to our success this season, and the coaching staff is looking forward to seeing what this team will do in the future."
Game 1: Brock 3 Toronto 4
In their quarter-final matchup, the Brock Badgers were walked off by the Toronto Varsity Blues 4-3.
Toronto got on the board early, putting up a run in the bottom of the first.
In the top of the second, Brock struck back to take a temporary lead. A Faith Westman single scored one run, while third-year utility player Emma Andres followed up with a double that drove in two runs.
The Toronto Varsity Blues cut into Brock's lead in the fourth, making the score 3-2.
The Brock Badgers would lose in heartbreaking fashion as an error in the bottom of the seventh saw Toronto walk off the game 4-3.
Third-year pitcher Reagan Lalande got the start for the Badgers and went 6.1 innings, earning three runs against and walking just one player. Megan Morrow was given the loss, pitching 0.1 innings and allowing one run.
Andres led the Badgers in the game with two hits and two RBI. Alexis Simpson and Westman recorded a hit each.
The Brock Badgers picked up two errors along the way to just Toronto's one.
Game 2: Brock 13 Windsor 12
Falling into the first round of the consolation bracket, the Brock Badgers advanced to the quarter-finals after a 13-12 win over the Windsor Lancers.
The Badgers got off to a hot start as the first inning saw them score five runs. Tanis Drover, Brielle Greenslade, Raquel Gomes and Morrow all drove in a run each with singles. A groundout from Westman also brought in a run for the Badgers.
Windsor clawed into Brock's lead by recording three runs in the bottom of the first inning. The Lancers then tied the game in the second before a single from Westman put Brock up 6-5.
A home run in the fourth from first baseman Drover made the 7-5 for the Badgers. A four-run fifth inning for the Badgers ultimately would be deemed massive as the Lancers scored six runs between the fifth and seventh innings to tie the game 11-11.
An eighth inning home run from Greenslade gave the Badgers a 13-11 lead that Windsor failed to match. A lone run from the Lancers in the eighth saw Brock take the game 13-12.
Morrow had the start on the mound and went 1.1 innings, giving up five runs and striking out one. Lalande finished the rest of the game, throwing 6.2 innings with one strikeout and walking none. The Cobourg product gave up six runs and seven hits.
The Brock Badgers amassed an impressive 18 hits in the game. Brampton product Emma Young and Greenslade led the way with three hits each. Isabella Miller, Drover, Andres and Westman all had two hits in the game. Simpson, Gomes, Lalande and Morrow picked up a hit each, giving every Badger atl least one hit in the contest.
Greenslade led the Badgers with 4 RBIs, while Drover (3), Andres (2), Miller (2), Westman (1), Gomes (1) and Morrow (1) all had runs batted in as well.
Brock and Windsor both ended with two errors in the game.
Game 3: Brock 3 Western 7
The Brock Badgers consolation quarter-final ended with a 7-3 defeat at the hands of the Western Mustangs.
The Mustangs struck first as they took a 1-0 lead in the first inning. An Andres single tied the game for Brock in the top of the second. Western retook the lead in the second, making it 3-1 for the Mustangs. Gomes and Drover would score a run each, but Western secured the victory with runs in the third, fourth and sixth innings.
Lalande had the start for the Brock Badgers, going three innings and giving up four runs, three earned. The kinesiology major struck out one batter and walked none. Morrow finished the game for the Brock Badgers, going three innings, striking out one, walking two batters and giving up three runs, two earned.
Andres and Young had two hits each in the game.
Brock had an impressive five walks to Western's two. The Badgers picked up two errors while Western had one of their own.
This concludes the Badgers' 2023 season and Turner is thankful for all those who helped contribute during the year.
"I want to give a big thank you to our senior class. We will miss each of you on the field next season, and I want to also thank the coaching staff and families for all their support."
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