COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. – The Ursinus College softball team fell victim to a late rally in the opener and to darkness in the nightcap of Thursday's Centennial Conference doubleheader with Washington College, dropping 3-2 and 5-3 decisions in its league opener.
The Shorewomen (12-12, 2-2) scored two runs in the top of the seventh – a rally aided by a Bears error – to steal the first contest, then won a race against the clock in the second. The final out came with the light fading quickly from Snell Field in the fifth inning as Ursinus (7-11, 0-2) was unable to muster a last-ditch comeback.
Junior Kaitlyn Willis hurled 9.1 innings on the day, allowing just one earned run despite taking a hard-luck loss in Game 1.
Game 1: Washington College 3, Ursinus 2
Ursinus trailed 1-0 and had little luck against Shorewomen southpaw Taylor Harcum, who allowed just three hits over the first five frames. The Bears' fortunes changed in the sixth, however, starting when sophomore Kayla Quinn was grazed by a pitch to lead off the at-bat.
After Quinn stole second, freshman Isabella Dewes reached first when the Washington College first baseman fielded her bunt and missed a swipe tag, putting runners on the corners. Dewes stole second, and sophomore Sam Garritano's bouncer to the right side brought home Quinn with the tying tally.
Sophomore Sammi Donato, who was stranded at third after a one-out triple in the fourth, dropped a blooper into left field to plate Dewes and hand the home side a 2-1 advantage.
The top of the seventh began inauspiciously, with a walk and a throwing error that allowed Washington College to have runners on first and third with no ours. Allyson Meil followed with a two-run triple over Donato's head in right.
The Bears put the tying run on via a two-out single by sophomore Gabrielle Manto, but Harcum retired Quinn on a fly ball to deep right to end it.
Harcum (6-4) allowed two runs on six hits, striking out four without a walk. Willis (5-4) took the loss despite surrendering only one earned run – three total – on five hits, with two walks and two whiffs mixed in.
Game 2: Washington College 5, Ursinus 3
Harcum did her damage with the bat this time, clearing the bases with a double to right-center in the top of the second.
The Bears came right back with three in their half, two of them on a two-out triple to center by Quinn. Freshman Renee LeClerc had opened the inning with a ringing double, with a walk to junior Rachel Hyman and a single by sophomore Callie Crouse helping fuel the rally.
The Shorewomen regained the lead in the third courtesy of a two-out, two-run single by Leah Stokes. The rest of the evening was a race against time, as the light faded with each passing minute. With dusk falling, Maddie Bennett got LeClerc on a fly out to deep center for the final out of the fifth and the game was called right there.
Willis came on in relief of freshman Jennifer Hammons and threw 2.1 innings of one-hit ball.
Up Next
The softball team resumes CC play at McDaniel on Saturday, April 1.
