PHILADELPHIA – Trailing 12-0 heading into the fourth inning, Ursinus proceeded to score 19 runs in the top of the fourth, then added six more in the fifth as the Bears (15-15) rallied to defeat Arcadia (7-23-1) 25-14 Wednesday afternoon in non-conference baseball action at Erny Field.
While Erny Field, the former home of Temple's football team, probably saw its share of 25-14 games, Wednesday's win for Ursinus was one for the record books.
The Bears' 19 runs in the fourth was the second-best all-time by a Centennial Conference school in an inning (record is 23, held by McDaniel in a win over Lincoln in 2002). Ursinus had 13 hits in the marathon inning, one off the record of 14 held by Dickinson.
Four Ursinus players had multiple hits, including a 4-for-5 performance from sophomore first baseman Chris Jablonski. Jablonski, who had a grand slam during the fourth, finished with five RBI and two runs score.
Senior center fielder Josh Schnell was 3-for-5 with four runs scored and three RBI, while freshman left fielder Jose Colon was 3-for-4 with four RBI. Freshman third baseman CJ Diana was 2-for-5 with three runs score and three RBI. Ursinus trailed 4-0 after the bottom of the first when Knights senior shortshop Elliott Freeman hit a grand slam to right off of Ursinus starter Louis Aikins. Arcadia then pushed eight across in the third to take a commanding 12-0 lead.
The fourth started with Schnell reaching on an error, then Jablonski singled to right to put Schnell on third. Freshman Greg Petorak's RBI single scored Schnell. Freshman Adam Campbell singled to center loading the bases, followed by Colon's two-run double to score Petorak and Jablonski. Another throwing error allowed Campbell and Colon to score, making the score 12-5. Following a walk, senior Ralph Aurora bunted down the right field line to load the bases. Diana was hit by a pitch to force in freshman Austin Kurey, making the score 12-6. Schnell, then making his second plate appearance of the inning, singled to left scoring sophomore Devyn Kerr making the Knight lead to 12-7.
A sacrifice fly by Jablonski scored Aurora (12-8), followed by a Petorak walk to load the bases. After freshman Austin Feuerman struck out, Colon singled to right, scoring Diana (12-9). Kurey then singled to center scoring Petorak and Schnell (12-11). Kerr's single to left reloaded the bases, after which Aurora walked with the bases loaded to score Colon (12-12). A two-run single by Diana scored Kerr and Kurey for the Bears to take a 14-12 lead. Schnell, up for the third time in the inning, was hit by pitch. Jablonski then hit his grand slam clearing the bases for an 18-12 lead.
The final run scored when Colon hit a RBI single to score Petorak.
In the fifth, Ursinus scored six more runs, highlighted by an RBI double from freshman Avery Perez and a two-run single from Schnell.
Connor Moriarty got the win, as he pitched the third and was the pitcher of record when the Bears took the lead in the fourth. He walked one.
Ursinus will host Swarthmore on Friday, still alive for the Centennial Conference playoffs. --