CHESTERTOWN, Md. – The Ursinus College softball team was swept in a Centennial Conference doubleheader at Washington College in chilly Maryland on Tuesday, falling just short of a rally in a 3-2 Game One setback before the Shorewomen used a seven-run fifth to coast to a 9-1 result in the six-inning nightcap.
Ursinus (8-12, 2-4) suffered a sweep at the hands of Washington College (13-13, 5-1) for the fourth straight season and saw its losing streak in the series reach nine games.
The Bears were quick to put their paws on the gas pedal in the opener, with freshmen Kayla Quinn and Callie Crouse singling back-to-back to put runners on the corners with one out in the top of the first. After Crouse swiped second, Quinn came around with the game's first run when the Shorewomen botched a run-down.
Washington College answered on a two-out RBI single by Trish Langley in the second, but freshman center fielder Samantha Garritano gunned down the lead runner at third to end the inning and avert further damage. The Shorewomen struck again in the third, this time courtesy of a two-out error that permitted the go-ahead run to score from second.
Washington College's two-out production continued in the fifth, when Maddie Bennett's double down the right-field line stretched the lead to 3-1.
The Bears missed a golden chance to make up ground in the sixth, leaving the bases loaded, but made things interesting in their last licks. After Quinn drew a leadoff walk, Crouse doubled down the left-field line for her third hit of the game, slicing the Washington College lead to 3-2. But Ursinus was unable to push the tying run across as three consecutive outs from Shorewomen hurler Taylor Harcum closed the door.
Crouse was 3-for-4 with a stolen base and Quinn scored twice for the Bears, who were just 3-of-19 with runners on and 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position. Willis (5-4) was a hard-luck loser, surrendering three runs (two earned) on seven hits with five strikeouts in her eighth straight complete game; the sophomore now needs just two strikeouts to reach 100 for her career.
Clare Hofstedt finished 2-for-3 with two runs scored at the top of the Washington College lineup, and Harcum (6-6) allowed two runs (one earned) with three walks and three strikeouts, scattering six hits.
Game Two was a pitcher's duel pitting Ursinus senior Zoe Heinke against Bennett, who did not allow a hit until freshman Brittany Gasser's infield single that loaded the bases with two outs in the fourth. But the Bears wasted the scoring opportunity, and Heinke's two-out walk with the sacks packed forced in the game's first run in the bottom half.
Ursinus pulled even in the fifth when junior Casey Derella singled to left with the bases loaded, but the Shorewomen cut down the would-be go-ahead run at the plate to end the inning.
After recording just two hits in the first four frames, Washington College came alive in the fifth, sending 13 women to the plate and scoring seven times on seven hits against Heinke and two relievers. Elaina DiPrimio's RBI single with one out plated the go-ahead run, and back-to-back doubles by Paige Briganti and Hannah Spohn – the latter's a two-run knock – provided the big blows as the home side broke through.
The Shorewomen tacked on a run in the sixth to bring about the eight-run mercy rule and end the twin bill.
Gasser had two hits for Ursinus, and junior Devan Cinalli saw her first action of the season, recording an out in the fifth. Heinke produced a hit in Game Two, leaving her two shy of 100 for her career.
Spohn (2-for-3, three RBI) and Briganti (2-for-3, two runs) sparked the Washington College offense, and Bennett (6-3) struck out 11 in six strong innings; she walked six and conceded five hits.
The Bears break from the conference gauntlet to take on Elizabethtown in a non-league twin bill on Thursday, April 7 at Snell Field.