CLERMONT, Fla. – The Ursinus College softball team split its opening day doubleheader, falling in extra innings in the first game against Becker before bouncing back to take game two against Sage.

Heather Lazer had a big day with six RBI that included a grand slam against the Gators. In the circle, it was Morgan Comfort who dished out a complete game, leading the Bears to their first victory of the season.

Game 1

The Bears started slow in the first game against Becker. Comfort walked and then stole second in the first to move into scoring position and Mackenzie Brennan did the same in the third, but both were left stranded.

Kayla McTamney retired 13 consecutive batters in the circle between the second and sixth innings, striking out four in the process.

Finally, the Ursinus bats got going in the sixth. Brennan led off with a single and then stole her second bag of the day before Comfort doubled to put runners on second and third. Lazer brought both home with a double to center field to take a 2-0 lead. 

The Bears didn't stop there. Ally St. Jean singled through the right side to bring Lazer across and then two batters later, Amanda Panati crossed the plate to make it 4-0.

Entering the bottom half of the seventh and needing just three outs, the Bears looked to be on their way to a victory. McTamney forced a fly out to left field and a ground out to second to put two outs on the board.

With a runner on first, Becker's Samantha Buzgo singled through the right side to bring in a run and give the Hawks offense a spark. The Hawks put the next five batters on base and scored four runs to tie the game and force extras.

Playing international tiebreaker rules, Julia Eckels started on second and then stole third to come a hit away from the go-ahead run. Eckels attempted to come home on a ground ball hit to shortstop by Lazer, but was thrown out at the plate.

After the Hawks were unable to score in the bottom of the frame, the Bears went 1-2-3 in the ninth. Becker advanced a runner to third on a sac-bunt and then walked-off on a wild pitch as the Bears fell 5-4.

Game 2

The Bears came right out and bounced back in game two, scoring right away. Comfort got hit at the plate to load the bases and then Lazer hit one over the fence for her first career grand slam to put Ursinus up 4-0.

In the circle, Comfort was solid throughout the contest. The junior got out of a jam with the bases loaded in the opening frame, making the throw-out to first. With the bases loaded in the third, Comfort forced a double-play to once again escape the inning unscathed.

Ursinus extended its lead in the fourth. Anna Mefford and Eckels singled to put runners on first and second. Comfort proved to be the double threat that she is as the junior tripled to bring both runners home and extend the Bears lead to 6-0.

The Gators brought in three runs in the bottom of the seventh, but a Comfort strikeout secured the win for the Bears.

Ursinus is back in action on Sunday for a doubleheader against Carnegie Mellon and Mount Union.