CHESTERTOWN, Md. – The Ursinus College softball team split its second Centennial Conference series of the season to Washington College on Saturday. The Bears (2-2) lost to the Shorewomen (4-7, 2-4 CC) 6-2 in game one before taking game two in five innings, 11-3.
Mackenzie Brennan and Grace White led the way in the Bears' win with two RBI apiece. Brennan went 3-for-4 at the plate while White went a perfect 3-for-3. Alexis Miller improved to 2-0 on the year, allowing three runs on nine hits.
Game 1
After a scoreless first inning that saw the Bears leave a pair of runners in scoring position, the Shorewomen grabbed the lead in the second. Sparked by a two-RBI single, Washington College scored four as the Bears fell behind 4-0.
Despite going down early, the Bears fought back. Ursinus loaded the bases to start the fourth and then a two-out, two-RBI single from Kailey Martin brought the Bears back within two. However, Washington College responded with a run of its own in the bottom of the frame and added another in the fifth to once again expand the lead to four.
The Ursinus bats were unable to string hits together late in the game. Brennan singled in the fifth and stole second, but was left stranded. Jordan Moore and Allyson Meakim made contact in the sixth and seventh but were unable to advance further as the Bears fell, 6-2.
Game 2
For a second consecutive week, the Bears would look to salvage the series split in game two of the doubleheader. Once again, the Ursinus bats got going and never let up.
Brennan got things going right away for the Bears. The junior led off with a double and then White brought her home with an RBI single to give Ursinus an early 1-0 lead.
The Bears then used a five-run second inning to jump ahead of the Shorewomen. Miscues in the outfield led to a pair of runs for Ursinus. Back-to-back singles from White and Ally St. Jean helped load the bases before Meakim put the Bears up 6-0 with a two-RBI single up the middle.
The runs didn't stop there.
Ursinus kept it going in the third. Brennan doubled to bring in Sara Sullivan and then came home off of a White RBI single. St. Jean made it three runs in the inning with an RBI single of her own to make it 9-0 for the Bears.
Amanda Panati hit one through the left side and was brought home by Moore to put the Bears in double-digits in the fourth. Brennan came home on a single from White as Ursinus took a commanding 11-0 lead into the bottom of the frame.
Washington College ended the shutout with three runs in the bottom of the fifth, but Sam Williams secured a fly ball in foul territory to give the Bears the win in five.
The 11-3 win over the Shorewomen marks Ursinus' largest margin of victory over Washington College since winning 12-1 in 2009.
What's Next?
The Bears will play their home opener on Thursday in a make-up doubleheader against Muhlenberg.