Box Score HAVERFORD, Pa. – Beginning a six-game critical stretch of Centennial Conference games, Ursinus exploded for ten runs in the final two innings as the Bears (9-14, 5-6 Centennial) rallied to defeat Haverford (23-5, 8-3 Centennial) 16-13 Thursday afternoon.
The Bears trailed 13-6 heading to the eighth, got four walks in the eighth inning to score two runs, then took a 14-13 lead on a RBI ground out by junior shortstop Brandon Sullivan (Gilbertsville, Pa./Boyertown) in the ninth. Sullivan had a monster day, going 4-for-7 with six RBI, including a three-run double in the eighth that pulled the Bears within two.
Five other players had multiple hits in addition to Sullivan, as freshman catcher Josh Schnell (Gilbersville, Pa./Boyertown) had three hits and three runs scored, while junior first baseman Rich Guthridge (Schwenksville, Pa./Spring-Ford) had three hits and four runs scored. Freshman designated hitter Ralph Aurora (Plainsboro, N.J./West Windsor-Plainsboro) had three hits, three runs scored and three RBI. Senior left fielder Danny Ludwig (Boonton Township, N.J./Mountain Lakes) and junior right fielder Garrett Smith (Syracuse, N.Y./West Genesse) each had two hits.
Sophomore pitcher Allen Weaver (Lemoyne, Pa./Trinity) got the win as he improved to 1-1 on the year by pitching the seventh and eighth inning. Sophomore pitcher Jake Kohler (Maple Glen, Pa./Upper Dublin) got the save, pitching a scoreless ninth.
Ursinus led 2-1 after the second inning as Aurora drove home Guthridge on a sacrifice fly. Schnell had scored the first run of the game on a throwing error. After Haverford took another lead at 3-2 after four, Ursinus plated four runs in the top of the fifth highlighted by a two-run double by Sullivan and a solo home run by junior centerfielder Ben Gresh (Pottstown, Pa./Pottsgrove). All but three of the Bears 19 hits in the game were singles.
Haverford had posted a six-spot in the bottom of the fifth as an error allowed the inning to continue and two runs to score. Of the 13 runs given up by Ursinus pitchers, eight of them were earned. Freshman pitcher Steve Berardi (Hartsville, Pa./Holy Ghost Prep) pitched 4.2 innings, allowing four earned runs.
For Haverford, senior shortstop Charlie Carluccio was 5-for-5 with five RBI.
The two teams resume their series on Friday at 3:30 p.m. in Collegeville.
