COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. – The Ursinus College softball team rallied from behind in a fireworks-fueled and delay-filled Game 1 but eventually fell to Swarthmore, 13-11, in the first half of Tuesday's suspended Centennial Conference doubleheader. Game 2 of the twin bill was called due to darkness in the bottom of fifth with the Bears down 3-1 but threatening.
The Bears and Garnet battled through two delays, one for rain in the bottom of the sixth and another for lightning in the opening game's top of the seventh before darkness put a stop to Game 2.
Senior Sammi Donato was a force all afternoon at the plate, going 5-for-6 with three doubles, two runs scored, and two RBI and registering the 100th hit of her career.
Game 1: Swarthmore 13, Ursinus 11
The opening game featured an outburst of 24 runs and 28 hits between the two conference foes.
Ursinus (12-11, 3-4) worked out of an early hole as the hosts scored five combined runs in the fifth and sixth to tie the game, 11-11. Senior Gabby Manto and sophomore Amanda Ladzinksi each singled to started a big three-run fifth. Both went 2-for-4 with two runs in the opener.
The Bears loaded the bases when senior Callie Crouse walked. Donato followed up with a two-run double to right center and freshman Mackenzie Brennan picked up an RBI fielder's choice to pull the Bears within 11-9. The rookie drove in three runs.
Manto doubled to set up a second-and-third situation before a downpour of rain hit Snell Field. After a brief delay, Crouse delivered a game-tying two-run single to right. She went 3-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI.
Swarthmore (15-8, 4-2) started the seventh with a single by Elizabeth Curcio and a sacrifice bunt. Marit Vike laid down a bunt that ultimately brought in Curcio on an errant throw to first base. Vike finished 4-for-4 with four runs, four stolen bases and a RBI.
With lightning in the area, the teams had to evacuate the field for some time before play resumed again.
The Garnet had second and third before the halting of play. After a strikeout to get two outs, a wild pitch scored a run to make it 13-11.
Swarthmore's Maddie Bowe retired the Bears in order in the seventh to pick up the save.
Early on, a lead-off walk came around to score on a single to left for the Garnet. Swarthmore worked in another run on a passed ball to take a 2-0 lead.
Senior Kayla Quinn hit a towering two-run blast to center to tie the game in the bottom of the first. It was Quinn's third career home run.
Swarthmore's Mika Maenaga tripled up the middle just past sophomore Heather Lazer and the ball went all the way to the fence to score two Garnet runs in the second. Maenage knocked in four runs for the Garnet.
Four consecutive doubles by Ladzinski, Crouse, Donato and Brennan scored three runs for the Bears in the second to knot the game at 5-5.
In the third, Swarthmore struck for five runs off five hits and an Ursinus miscue to go up 10-5.
Crouse lined a single to left to plate sophomore Morgan Comfort in the bottom half of the third. The Bears worked the bases loaded before Brennan flew out to right field, ending an Ursinus threat.
Game 2
The nightcap fell just shy of the required five complete innings needed to make it official. Ursinus had runners on first and second with no outs before the game was halted. The date for the continuation of the game is to be determined.
With the Bears down 3-1 in the fifth, Donato started the bottom half with a single to center. Pinch-hitter Samantha Garritano walked before play was stopped by the umpire.
Trailing 3-0, Donato doubled to left field to start the Bears' half of the third, then took third on a wild pitch and scored on a grounder by Brennan. Donato was 2-for-2 with a double and a run scored.
Comfort started on the rubber for the Bears. She worked the five innings, surrendering two earmed runs.
Swarthmore's Maddie Bowe got the start after coming in for the first game close. She went through four-plus innings, allowing a run on four hits.
The Bears host a non-conference doubleheader Thursday against Immaculata starting at 3 p.m.