COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. – After trailing 12-3 heading into the eighth, the Ursinus baseball team rallied for seven combined runs in the last two innings, but the comeback fell short 12-10 to Penn State Brandywine.
Ursinus (9-15-1) found itself in yet another high-scoring contest and several Bears moved themselves up the record books with standout performances. Junior Carter Usowski led the Bears with a strong 5-for-6 and three-RBI day, which included the 100th hit of his career.
Senior Travis Kozak contributed four hits in the leadoff spot to increase his career hit total to 133, which is good for 10th all-time at Ursinus. Usowski and Kozak accounted for nine of the Bears' 15 hits.
Sophomore Alex Mumme blasted his seventh home run of the season, moving him within one of tying the Ursinus single season mark. His two-run round tripper marked his 11th in his two seasons as a Bear; Mumme is tied for fifth in career home runs.
In the first inning, Penn State Brandywine (13-15) came out of the gates quickly and capitalized on walks. The Lions sent 10 hitters to the dish and plated six runs on four hits in the opening frame. Brendan Ricciardi delivered the big blow, a grand slam to right center field.
Ursinus scored a run in the bottom on a Usowski single to center which scored Kozak. The Nittany Lions answered with a run in the second courtesy of a fielding error.
Both teams scored a run in the third. Usowski led off the fifth with a double down the left field line. Later on in the inning, freshman Jerry Scavone singled Usowski in getting the score to 8-3.
The Lions plated four more runs in the sixth through eighth innings, pushing their lead to 12-3.
Ursinus' bats came to life in the eighth and ninth. Sophomore Jake Supran got the four-run eighth started with a single that fell in behind the second baseman. Kozak served an opposite field hit to left. Mumme was beaned. Supran then scored on a wild pitch, and Usowski doubled home two runs. Sophomore Mike Stanziale continued the scoring with an RBI single to right to get the Bears within five runs, 12-7.
In the three-run ninth, freshman Eric Gross was hit by a pitch and Kozak reached on a throwing error, setting up a first-and-third situation. Kozak swiped second and Gross continued home on the throw from the catcher to execute a double steal. Mumme got the Bears within two runs as he blasted a two-run homer to center. Down 12-10, the last two batters were retired on groundouts to close the game.
Chris Edwards (1-2) earned the win by pitching 5 2/3 innings, giving up three runs on nine hits while walking two and fanning five batters. Penn State Brandywine totaled 11 hits and drew eight walks. Ricciardi led by going 2-for-4 with grand slam, two runs and four RBI. Andre Pendleton delivered three hits and two runs batted in. Tommy Crumlish went 2-for-5 with two runs and an RBI. Brian Reynolds came around to score three times and drew four free passes.
Usowski scored twice in addition to his three RBI, and Kozak crossed the plate four times. Jake Supran finished 1-for-3 with two runs, while Mumme was 1-for-5 with three RBI and two runs.
The Bears host CC opponent Swarthmore Friday at 3:30 p.m.