LANCASTER, Pa. - For the first time in over a year, the Ursinus College softball team found itself in action. Ursinus (1-1) split its Saturday doubleheader against Franklin and Marshall (1-1). The Bears came up just short in game one, falling 3-1. Then, in an exciting game two, the Bears rallied from 6-1 down to win 11-9. Ursinus hit three home runs in the win, including a grand slam from junior Mackenzie Brennan.
Brennan led the way on Saturday. The junior tallied three hits over the two games, which included a triple and her first career grand slam. She finished with five RBI. In the circle, sophomore Alexis Miller threw her second career complete game in a win in game two. Miller tied her career-high with four strikeouts.
Game 1
The first game between the Bears and Diplomats was a low-scoring affair with neither team finding much success at the plate. Kayla McTamney allowed just six hits through 5.2 innings of play – four of which came in the sixth inning.
The Diplomats threatened in the bottom of the second. However, McTamney was unshaken. After back-to-back singles and both runners in scoring position, the junior pitcher forced three straight outs to get out of the inning unscathed.
The Bears got on the scoreboard first. Julia Eckels led off the third inning with her second career triple. Mackenzie Brennan then brought her home with a single up the middle to center field to put Ursinus ahead, 1-0.
The two teams then went three consecutive innings without a single hit. McTamney retired 10 straight batters, striking out one. The Diplomats then recorded their first hit since the second inning. They strung together four hits in the sixth to score three runs. The Bears fell behind 3-1 heading into the final frame.
With two outs, Brennan tripled to bring the tying run to the plate. However, the Bears comeback attempt fell just short. Amanda Panati flew out to center field as F&M's Devon Witt made a diving grab in center field.
Game 2
The Diplomats' late success at the plate carried into game two. A one-out walk was followed up by a blooper over first base to put runners at first and second. With two outs on the board, F&M split the infield with a single up the middle to take a 1-0 lead. The Bears were able to get out of the inning with minimal damage as Brennan secured a fly-ball in left field.
Heather Lazer led off with a stand-up double off the right-field wall to begin the second inning. Morgan Comfort then advanced to second after a single to center field to put two runners in scoring position. Lazer slid in to score at the plate on a ground-out from Megan Hasulak to tie the game at one run apiece.
In the bottom half, the Diplomat bats remained hot. A three-RBI double with the bases loaded and a single to center added four runs to put F&M up 5-1. The Diplomats added another run in the fourth to take a 6-1 lead.
Just went it seemed like it was over, the game was only really getting started. Trailing by five in the fifth, the Bears used an eight-run inning to take control. Walks from Delanie Baker and Sara Sullivan and a single from Hasulak loaded the bases.
Then it started.
Mackenzie Brennan hit her first career grand slam over the left-field wall, clearing the bases to bring the Bears back within one. It was Brennan's first homer since her freshman season against Eastern.
The inning didn't stop there. Freshman Grace White doubled and Ally St. Jean got on base to put a pair of runners on.
Then, it happened again.
Morgan Comfort hit her sixth career home run – this one a three-run shot to give Ursinus its first lead of the game. The Bears never looked back.
Coming back around the order, Baker singled to bring Sullivan home. Ursinus went from trailing by five to taking a three-run, 9-6 lead into the bottom of the frame.
The Bear bats picked up where they left off in the sixth. Eckels hit a lead-off single to start the inning. Then, it was a third home run in two innings. Hitting her first collegiate homer, White extended the lead to 11-6.
After 10 straight runs from the Bears, the Diplomats finally responded with three runs of their own to cut the Ursinus lead to two. With the tying run at the plate, pitcher Alexis Miller forced a fly out to center-field to end the side.
A quick 1-2-3 inning sent Ursinus to the bottom of the seventh looking for the final three outs to complete the comeback. Consecutive flyouts to the outfield put the Bears one out away. On a 1-2 count, Miller caught the batter looking to finish her second career complete-game outing and secured the 11-9 victory
What's next?
The Bears are scheduled to play on the road once again next weekend when they'll take on Washington College.