WESTMINSTER, Md. – A late rally in game two helped the Ursinus Softball Team earn a split against McDaniel in their Centennial Conference doubleheader regular season finale on Saturday afternoon. The Bears dropped a 6-3 decision in game one before bouncing back in game two, 4-3.
With the split, the Bears will finish the 2022 season at 17-18 overall and 5-11 in Centennial Conference action. Meanwhile, the Green Terror finish the regular season at 18-21 overall and 10-6 in conference play. McDaniel will face Muhlenberg to open the Centennial Conference tournament on Tuesday afternoon.
GAME ONE
Senior Mackenzie Brennan led the game off with a double but was stranded on second after three-straight outs were recorded. The Green Terror took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom half of the first inning after getting a two-out double with a runner on first base. A pair of singles to open the bottom of the third led to the Green Terror's second run from a sacrifice fly. The Bears tied the game at two in the top of the fourth inning after a crazy play that started with a bunt from junior Allyson Meakim. Following a leadoff single from sophomore Maddie Solow, Meakim dropped a tough bunt and originally would have reached first with a single. However, the Green Terror third baseman launched the ball into left field after trying to get Solow out at third base and the ball rolled all the way to the wall. Meakim was able to score the tying run all the way from first base on the throwing error. Ursinus took the lead at 3-2 in the top of the fifth after Brennan came around to score on a throwing error after leading the inning off with a double. McDaniel responded in the bottom of the fifth by scoring a run off a single up the middle and tied the game at three. The Green Terror took the lead back for good in the bottom of the sixth inning with three runs by taking advantage of a pair of errors from the Bears.
GAME TWO
After the Bears stranded a pair of runners in the top of the first, the Green Terror took the initial 1-0 lead much like they did in game one. Sophomore Madison Wilson responded for the Bears in the top half of the second inning after crushing a two-run home run to left field which was the first of her collegiate career. The Green Terror forced a bases loaded walk in the bottom of the fourth inning to tie the game at two before a two-out single in the fifth put them ahead at 3-2. After having seven-straight batters retired, the Bears knotted the game in the top half of the sixth inning. Ursinus advanced runners to second and third base with one out and took advantage of a collision between a pair of Green Terror fielders on a pop fly to right field to score the run. The Bears took the lead in the top of the seventh off a fielder's choice with the bases loaded. Meakim ripped a grounder under the glove of the Green Terror shortstop, and she recovered to get her only play a third base, allowing junior Amanda Panati to score from third base. Ursinus stranded a pair of Green Terror runners at first and second base in the bottom of the seventh to preserve the win.
Brennan closed her collegiate career with three hits between the two games and scored a run in game one. Senior Ally St. Jean went 3-of-4 in game two. First-year pitcher Stephanie Wichman earned the win in game two for the Bears after tossing two scoreless innings of relief and allowing just one hit to improve her record to 8-0 in 2022.