HAVERFORD, Pa. – Ursinus sophomore left fielder Josh Schnell (Gilbertsville, Pa./Boyertown) went 2-for-4 with five RBI, including his first career home run as the Bears (13-14, 5-5 Centennial) came from behind to defeat Haverford (13-16, 5-5 Centennial) 11-8 on Friday afternoon on the Main Line.
The win marked the first series sweep for Ursinus of the Fords since 2004.
Junior catcher Kevin Wilson (Brunswick, Maine/Brunswick) had three RBI, while senior centerfielder Ben Gresh (Pottstown, Pa./Pottsgrove) went 3-for-5 with two run scored, with a triple and a home run.
Senior shortstop Brandon Sullivan (Gilbertsville, Pa./Boyertown) also picked up three hits in the win.
Ursinus took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first on a two-run double by Schnell with two outs that scored Sullivan and senior right fielder Garrett Smith (Syracuse, N.Y./West Genesse).
Haverford would add a run in the bottom of the frame, then score in the bottom of the second to tie the score at 2-all.
In the third, Ursinus took a 5-2 lead on Schnell's three run home run to left field.
Haverford would answer back in the bottom of the fourth, striking four five runs on a RBI groundout, a bases loaded hit by pitch, a sacrifice fly, and two run scoring singles, to go up 7-5.
Gresh's solo home run to centerfield with one out in the fifth cut the Ursinus deficit to 7-6.
After Haverford scored one in the bottom of the fifth to go up 8-6, Ursinus got to within one at 8-7 on a RBI single by Sullivan in the top of the sixth inning. Wilson would then hit a bases-clearing double to center for a 10-8 lead for the Bears. Senior first baseman Rich Guthridge (Schwenksville, Pa./Spring-Ford) would then single through the right side to score Wilson for an 11-8 lead.
Sophomore right hander Steve Berardi (Hartsville, Pa./Holy Ghost Prep) got the win in relief of junior starter A.J. Wright (Holland, Pa./Council Rock South). Berardi pitched the final 5.1 innings, allowing five hits and one unearned run. He struck out one and walked two to move to 3-2.
Wright started the game, going 3.2 innings allowing six earned runs. He walked four and struck out one.
Ursinus will host Johns Hopkins on Saturday in a doubleheader.