The University of Toronto Varsity Blues baseball team opened their 2023 OUA campaign winning three of four games this past weekend.

Following a busy preseason, U of T began regular season action in Kingston with a doubleheader versus the Queen's Gaels, splitting the series with a 6-2 victory and 6-3 loss.

In the first game of the weekend, a five-run third inning, which included a two RBI single from Owen Taylor, secured the lead for the Blue and White. Meanwhile, starting pitcher Kento Moriyoshi delivered six strong innings, allowing just two runs on six hits, while striking out three Queen's batters in the win.

A more back-and-forth outing for Game 2, Toronto were unable to mount a late comeback despite scoring two runs in the seventh to cut into the Gaels advantage. Taylor once again tallied two RBI, finishing the second contest going 2-for-4 at the plate, along with a stolen base. On the mound, first-year pitcher Clayton Winteler went five innings, conceding just four hits and one walk, while striking out three.

Returning to Dan Laing Field the next day, the Blues rallied in two wins versus the visiting Waterloo Warriors, securing final scores of 6-5 and 14-4.

In the one-score victory to open the Sunday doubleheader, it was a seventh inning walk drawn by Kristyan Puyols-Gennosar that secured the victory for the Blue and White. Puyols-Gennosar was exceptional at the plate all game long, finishing the win going 3-for-3 with three RBI and the game-clinching walk. Both Carter Hercun and Niko Kekatos also drove home runs, with each recording two hits through the full seven-inning affair. Third-year pitcher Kevin Angers recorded a weekend high nine strikeouts for the Blues, going 6.2 innings with five hits and four earned runs against.

Carrying the excitement of the walk-off win into Game 2, Toronto dominated the Warriors  with a combined 11 runs scored between the fourth and fifth innings. First-year infielder Ryan Hsu converted two doubles into four RBI for U of T, while Puyols-Gennosar continued the hot streak at the plate registering another two hits and adding another three RBI to his day. Third-year pitcher Connor Broughton gave up four hits and three walks for three earned runs against, while striking out four Warriors to secure the five-inning victory.

The Blues next challenge the Windsor Lancers at Dan Laing Field in another doubleheader on Saturday, Sept. 16, before not needing to travel too far for a showdown with the York Lions on Sunday. Sept. 17.