The second week in the OIWFA was on the road for the Varsity Blues, traveling to play Ryerson University on Friday night to kick off Week 2 play. In a defensive battle, the Rams and Blues played 0-0 through six innings, with great pitching, catching and defence from Toronto especially. Erin Sullivan pitched into the seventh before leaving with two runners on. Ryerson was able to push across one run in the bottom of the seventh inning to walk off Toronto for the 1-0 win.
Game 2 saw second-year pitcher Samantha Cotton take the ball and she did not disappoint, striking out eight Rams in five innings before giving way to a Varsity Blues debut for Alexandra Pennell. With Toronto trailing 3-1, Pennell came in and shut the door over two innings, giving the offence time to strike. Sullivan led off the sixth with a single, followed by a double from second basemen Amanda Deconinck, and a two-run triple from Kylie O'Donnell, leading to a 5-3 lead, which Pennell held to split the series with Ryerson 1-1.
Saturday morning had Toronto traveling all the way to Windsor after the tough evening against Ryerson. Taylor Wright took the ball to the pitching circle to battle the 3-3 Lancers. Throwing a very solid five innings, in extremely humid conditions, Wright held Windsor to three runs on six hits. Erin Sullivan closed the door as the offence had another late surge. Toronto scored seven in the top of the seventh to take a commanding 9-3 lead on the strength of great patience, drawing five walks in the win and adding stolen bases from Alison Feise and Madison MacKenzie. The runs were driven in from Sullivan, Wright, O'Donnell and a bases clearing, three RBI double from short stop Beth Deconinck to put the finishing touches on a strong game.
Game 2 of the Windsor series had Sullivan continue to pitch but Windsor got to her in the third, scoring a pair of runs, before Samantha Cotton entered to pitch. Cotton gave up just one more run over the remaining 4.2 innings, pitching excellent en route to win No. 1 on the season for her. The offence was a team effort again with Sullivan, Amanda Deconinck, Wright and Kristen Naidu each having two hits. Fourth-year centre fielder Rebecca Burt chipped in with a sacrifice fly for an RBI, and the defence was stellar again behind Sullivan and Cotton for a sweep of the Lancers 5-3.
With the sweep at Windsor, and a split against Ryerson, the Varsity Blues now sit at 5-3 for the season, and atop the East division in the OIWFA. As a team, Toronto is hitting .326 for the season to date, as well as stealing bases at a 92% success rate. This diverse attack is something the Blues will lean on as the OIWFA season continues. Toronto welcomes the Ottawa Gee-Gees to Dieppe Park on Saturday at 2 / 4pm and the Carleton Ravens at 11am and 1pm Sunday at Hendon Park.
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