MISSISSAUGA – The Mississauga Twins are finding life in the Intercounty Baseball League getting tougher and tougher as the season wears on.

After a solid start to their first season in Mississauga after transferring from Stratford in the off-season, the Twins are really starting to struggle as they try to hold on to the eighth and final playoff spot in the IBL.

The Toronto Maple Leafs mauled the Twins 22-2 Saturday night in Mississauga , pounding out 18 hits and taking advantage of six errors as the reeling Twins slipped to 6-15 after a strong start.

Toronto scored four runs in the second, third and fourth innings and continued to pour it on from there, improving to 14-6 and moving to within 2 1/2 games of the first place Barrie Baycats in the IBL.

The Leafs host the Guelph Royals Sunday at 2 p.m.

“Every once in a while a new team is going to struggle like that,” Leaf owner Jack Dominico said. “We were really pounding the ball tonight too so that made it a long night for them.”

It was indeed a long night for the Twins, who can take some solace from thw fact that the Hamilton Thunderbirds are a miserable 2-20. With eight of the league’s nine teams making the playoffs, Mississauga still enjoys a 4 1/2 game cushion on the T-Birds.

Kern Watts sparked the Leafs assault with three hits, two runs scored and two RBI. Dan Gibbons also had three hits, while Warren Bradley had two hits, including a three-run homer, and Rob Gillis also had two hits. Jeremy Walker also had a two-run homer for the winners.

Jason Pilkington had an easy night for the win, going seven innings. He allowed one run on six hits, striking out six and walking one.

Brian Speck was the loser. He last three innings and was nailed for eight runs on four hits, striking out two and walking three.

Derek Gordon had two hits and both RBI for Mississauga .