By Devin Jones
The Ryerson baseball team split their Sunday doubleheader against the Queen’s Gaels. After Queen’s took the first game 1-0, the Rams came out swinging and took the second one 12-2.
Rams shortstop Mark Teri capped off his birthday weekend with two, three run home runs that helped secure the second game for his team.
“It felt really good, it was nice getting that first one so we could have a little lead to play with,” said Tari. “I have homework to do, so I probably won’t be celebrating.”
The first game was all defence for both teams with Rams starter Bryan Vardzel pitching all nine innings and striking out eight. Neither team was able to score until the top of eighth inning when Queen’s scored the only run.
The bottom of the ninth saw the Rams poised to make a comeback with both second baseman Joey Armstrong and outfielder Matthew Papania on base. Yet a double play, and a controversial third-strike call against catcher Keith Capstick, ended the game and gave Ryerson their tenth loss of the season.
“I don’t see the games as being too different, we just came out on the wrong end of a hard-luck loss in game one,” said head coach Ben Rich. “There wasn’t really anything wrong with the hitting, we just had a couple balls go right at guys.”
Game two saw a rejuvenated Rams team take the field. A double to left field off the bat of first basemen Josh Lund set Tari up for his first three run home run in the first.
In the bottom of the second, Rams third basemen Adrian Stellato stole not only second and third base, but home as well, putting the Rams up 4-0. With Nathan Shiwcharan and Justin Singh adding to runs to make it 6-1 Ryerson in the bottom of the fourth, Teri’s second blast of the game pulled the Rams even further ahead, making it 9-1
“The second game we just capitalized, the bats were going our way,” said Armstrong. “Now we just have to take a look at our base running.”
Runs batted in by Lund in the bottom of the fifth all but secured victory for the Rams, who have played well in previous games but have been unable to finish.
“We know we can play like this, that’s nothing new,” said Rich. “Now it’s just a matter of consistently playing this way for the rest of the season.”
The Rams play their next game against the McMaster Marauders on Saturday Oct. 4 at George Taylor Field in Hamilton.
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