ALLENTOWN, Pa. – After building a 6-1 lead in the first inning, Ursinus saw Muhlenberg rally for five runs in the bottom of the eighth in a 9-8 heartbreaking loss for the Bears (5-10, 1-2 Centennial) against the Mules (5-16-1, 2-1 Centennial) Tuesday afternoon in baseball action.

Despite the loss, Ursinus got three hits from junior shortstop Brandon Sullivan (Gilbertsville, Pa./Boyertown) and two RBI from senior third baseman Rob Vogt (Basking Ridge, N.J./The Hill School), junior centerfielder Ben Gresh (Pottstown, Pa./Pottsgrove) and junior right fielder Garrett Smith (Syracuse, N.Y./West Genesee).

The first inning saw Ursinus bang out five of their nine hits on the day, with Gresh hitting a two-run double with one out, with Smith also hitting a two-run double in the inning. Sullivan (single) and sophomore catcher Kevin Wilson (Brunswick, Maine/Brunswick) getting RBIs.

After allowing just one run in the first inning, junior pitcher Nate Schnell (Gilbertsville, Pa./Boyertown) allowed six hits and two runs the rest of the way before being pulled in the seventh. Junior left handed pitcher Steve Christakos (Rockville, Md./Walter Johnson) pitched a 1-2-3 seventh. Schnell struck out three and walked two in six innings of work.

Vogt had a RBI double in the fourth and a RBI single in the eighth.

In the eighth, Muhlenberg sent 11 batters to the plate, and was aided by an Ursinus error. Muhlenberg sophomore centerfielder John Muha scored what turned out to be the game winning run on a bases loaded walk with two outs in the inning.

Christakos took the loss in relief of Schnell.

Ursinus hosts the University of the Sciences on Thursday afternoon.