The University of Toronto Varsity Blues baseball team fell to the Guelph Gryphons 9-1 and 8-2 in a Sunday (Sept. 20) doubleheader at Dan Laing Field this weekend.

In the opener, the Gryphons and Blues offences struggled in the early going with the game tied 1-1 heading into the fifth inning. Toronto's third-inning run would come courtesy of designated hitter Andrew Mannone (Toronto).

After four innings of one run ball, the tide began to turn on U of T pitcher Peter Nash (Ajax, Ont.) in the decisive fifth. The Gryphons offence awoke and pulled away with six earned runs.

Despite strong relief efforts from pitchers Justin Carroll (Mississauga, Ont.) and Daniel Connolly (Pickering, Ont.), who combined to finish the game with only three hits allowed, the damage would be too much for the Varsity Blues to overcome.

In game two it would again be the fifth inning that would undo the Blues. Starting pitcher Dan Marquez (Cambridge, Ont.) would carry a one run effort through four innings before leaving the game in the fifth due to four unearned runs courtesy of several defensive errors.

Despite a strong day at the plate from catcher Kyle Bowers (Toronto) who finished the second game 3-for-4 with an RBI and one stolen base, the offence as a whole was unable to lift the team above the defensive miscues.

The Varsity Blues will now travel to Kingston, Ont. when they take on the Queen's Gaels this Saturday, September 26. U of T will then have a quick turnaround heading west on Sunday, September 27 to face the McMaster Marauders. 

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