MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – A valiant comeback effort fell just short for the Ursinus College softball team on Thursday evening, as the Bears fell 4-3 to Wilkes in the finale of their spring break swing in South Carolina.

Sophomore Samantha Garritano turned in another impressive performance at the plate for Ursinus, reaching base all four times on two hits and two walks and scoring a run. Over the final three games of the trip, Garritano was 6-for-9 with two walks and six runs scored.

Wilkes (5-1) jumped out in front on RBI singles by Ally Paskas and Grace Staunton in the bottom of the second. The Colonels added another run in the fourth and opened up a 4-0 lead after an RBI double by Sarah Gibson in the fifth.

The Bears (3-5) sliced the deficit in half with two unearned runs in the sixth, capitalizing on an error that allowed sophomore Kayla Quinn to get aboard to lead off the frame. After a walk to Garritano, freshman Faith Carson came through with an RBI single to get Ursinus on the board. A second error allowed Garritano to score the second run of the inning, but the Bears left runners on the corners to end the threat.

Freshman Renee LeClerc opened the seventh with a base hit, and a single by Dewes – who advanced on the throw – put Bears on second and third with two outs. A passed ball brought LeClerc home and sent Dewes to third, and Garritano drew her second base on balls. Down to the last out, Ursinus' rally fizzled when Staunton got Carson to pop up to second.

Stauton improved to 3-0 with a complete game, surrendering seven hits and striking out seven Bears; all three of Ursinus' runs were unearned. Haley Welker finished 2-for-3 with two runs, while Paskas was 2-for-2 with a run and an RBI.

Junior Kaitlyn Willis (2-2) took the loss after allowing two runs in two innings. Freshman Jennifer Hammons came on in relief and tossed the final four frames in the circle, striking out three and allowing two runs on five hits.

Their spring trip complete, the Bears head back home Friday before a weekend trip to Salisbury for Salisbury Invitational. Ursinus will face the host Sea Gulls in a doubleheader on Saturday before challenging Lynchburg in a Sunday twin bill.