READING, Pa. – The Ursinus College softball team fell victim to a sweep at the hands of Alvernia in Thursday's non-conference finale.
The Bears (18-16-1) managed just two hits in a 12-2, five-inning defeat in Game 1, but came back to grab an early 3-0 lead in the nightcap before the Golden Wolves separated themselves with a seven-run outburst in the fourth inning of a 9-5 decision.
Freshman Mackenzie Brennan had three hits on the day for Ursinus, joining sophomore Heather Lazer with a multi-hit effort in Game 2.
Game 1: Alvernia 12, Ursinus 2 (5)
Ursinus found itself in a 7-0 hole after two innings, but used a trio of Alvernia errors to get back in it with a pair of third-inning runs. An infield single by sophomore Morgan Comfort, combined with a miscue by the hosts, put runners on second and third for senior Kayla Quinn, whose grounder to second was thrown away to allow a second run to score.
The Golden Wolves responded with three more runs in the third and added two in the fourth.
Game 2: Alvernia 9, Ursinus 5
Ursinus got on top early in the nightcap, making a move in the second inning as base hits by senior Gabrielle Manto and Lazer preceded a walk to senior Faith Carson to load the bases. Freshman Ally St. Jean brought home a run with a groundout, and Brennan doubled the lead with an infield single.
The Bears went ahead 3-0 when senior Samantha Garritano walked, went to second on Quinn's sacrifice bunt, and scored on Lazer's base hit through the left side.
Freshman Kayla McTamney carried a shutout into the fourth, but the game got away from the Bears as Alvernia batted around and racked up seven runs.
The Golden Wolves scored twice more in the sixth before Ursinus made a mini-rally in the seventh. Freshman pinch-hitter Julia Eckels stroked a double to left and moved to third on Garritano's base hit. Quinn's RBI groundout made it 9-4, and Garritano dashed home on a double steal after a walk to Manto to finish the scoring.
Lazer was 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI, while Brennan went 2-for-4 with double and an RBI. Garritano scored two runs, and Manto reached base three times with a single and two walks.
The Bears play their final doubleheader of the regular season Saturday at McDaniel, with a Centennial Conference playoff berth on the line. Ursinus is tied with Swarthmore for third place, two ahead of McDaniel and Franklin & Marshall in the loss column. The Bears and Garnet still have to complete the second half of a twin bill that was suspended on April 9.