GWYNEDD VALLEY, Pa. – Jerry Scavone and Alex Mumme gave the Ursinus College baseball team a strong one-two punch atop the lineup on the way to a 7-5 non-conference victory at Gwynedd Mercy.
Ursinus (13-11) started slow at the plate in what looked to be a low-scoring affair but finished strong in large part to the bats of the power-hitting duo. The pairing did heavy damage in the second and third spots in the Bears' order, combining to go 7-for-10 with six RBI and three runs.
Scavone was 3-for-5 with two triples, three RBI, and two runs. Mumme finished a triple shy of the cycle and blasted his 20th career home run (eighth of the season) to highlight his 4-for-5 day with three RBI, a run scored, and his first stolen base of the year.
Mumme is now one shy of tying Craig Walck '81 for the most home runs in school history. He also matched his 2018 season total that tied the season record. Only three other Bears in school history have hit eight round-trippers in a season, and Mumme now has done it twice.
In the sixth and seventh innings, the Bears were able to score six combined runs and break free of five innings of zeros on the scoreboard. Scavone ripped a triple down the right-field line to begin the frame. Mumme gave the Bears a 2-1 lead when he one-upped Scavone's extra-base hit with his homer down the left-field line.
The Griffins singled in a run to tie it 2-2 in the sixth before Scavone's three-run triple in the seventh. The sophomore's second triple of the game drove in sophomore Eric Gross (single) along with freshman Jon Moldoff and junior Dom Fiorentino, who had previously reached on walks. Mumme singled in Scavone to go up 6-2 and wrap up the Bears' huge inning.
In the bottom half of the seventh, Gwynedd Mercy's Josh Lopez sent a two-run homer over the fence to cut the lead to 6-4.
The Bears tacked on an insurance run in the eighth when Fiorentino hit Ursinus' third triple of the game, which scored Moldoff, who singled earlier in the frame. Fiorentino extended his single-season school record triples mark to nine, which currently stands second in Division III this season.
Gwynedd Mercy's Dave Tatoian homered in the eighth to get the Griffins within two runs again at 7-5. Tatoian's home run was his 21st of his career, setting Gwynedd's Mercy's school record. He was a tough out as he went 3-for-4 with two runs, two RBI and a stolen base.
The Griffins (11-11-2) struck first in the fourth inning off of a fielding miscue by the Bears. Tatoian scored the first run after he registered the home team's first hit and swiped second.
The Bears used six pitchers on the day to get back into the win column after a two-game slide. Senior Matt Bull (4-1) picked up the win. Sophomore Nolan Graber made his first appearance in nearly a month due to injury. Graber, last season's Centennial Conference Rookie of the Year, protected the two-run lead in the ninth inning to earn his first career save.
Freshman southpaw Luke Verga made his first career start on the bump for Ursinus. He tossed three stellar hitless innings. Verga gave way to fellow rookie pitcher Ryan Schwab, who appeared in his first collegiate game. Schawb worked two innings, giving up a run.
Junior catcher Kyle Supran started his first game of the season behind the plate. He gunned down three Griffin runners stealing.
The Bears host Haverford Friday at 3:30 p.m. to complete the home-and-home series with the Fords.