ALLENTOWN, Pa. – Ursinus College freshman pitcher Kaitlyn Willis (Perryville, Md./Perryville) drove in two runs and limited Muhlenberg to just six hits in 12 innings as the Bears (9-18, 1-13 Centennial) defeated the Mules (13-11, 8-5 Centennial) 3-2 in game two of a Centennial Conference doubleheader on Saturday.
In game one, the Mules defeated the Bears 10-0 in five innings.
In the night cap, the Bears took an early 1-0 lead in the second when freshman third baseman Rachel Hyman (Maple Glen, Pa./Upper Dublin) singled to center fielder, then advanced on a bunt sacrifice by junior catcher Shelby Edelson (Pottstown, Pa./Pottsgrove). Willis singled to center scoring Hyman with one out.
After Muhlenberg scored in the bottom of the third to tie the score at 1-all, neither team scored forcing the game into extra innings. The Bears did use great defense in the bottom of the seventh, as the Mules had the winning run at third with one out. On a fielder's choice, the Bears threw out the runner at the plate forcing the game into the eighth.
When the game reached the tenth, the international tie breaker rule came into effect, playing the last batter to get out in the previous inning on second. Both teams had runners on third in the tenth but could not get them across.
Ursinus struck first in the 11th, as senior first baseman Ellen Goldstein (Doylestown, Pa./Central Bucks West) scored a sacrifice fly by sophomore left fielder Casey Derella (Millville, N.J./Millville). Muhlenberg would answer back in the 11th and get a runner on third with two outs, but, Willis got a fly out to end the inning.
In the 12th, Hyman scored with one out on a single by Willis. Willis did the rest in the bottom of the 12th as she sent the Mules down in order.
Derella finished game two 2-for-4, while Hyman was 2-for-5 with two runs scored. Willis improved to 4-4, with six strikeouts and one walk.