Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. – Freshman Jared Minnichbach hit three home runs, including two in the second half of Saturday's baseball double header between Ursinus (2-4) and Gettysburg (3-5). The Bears fell in game one, 7-4, before Minnichbach's four RBI led the team to a 9-5 win, earning the split.
Game 1
Balls were flying off the bats at Thomas Field. The two teams combined to hit seven home runs over the two games on Saturday.
The Bears came out hot in game one. Will Peiffer and Solomon Griffith led off with back-to-back singles. A passed ball by the Bullets catcher brought Peiffer in to score to give the Bears an early 1-0 lead in the first inning.
After a 1-2-3 top of the second, Ursinus picked up where they left off. Tom Snipes led off with a single and then Connor Barrett went yard to put the Bears up 3-0. Another homer in the third, this time by Jared Minnichbach extended the Bears advantage to 4-0.
Despite starting hot, the Bears were unable to find much success at the plate after the third. Ursinus had just two hits after the third inning – both doubles by Eric Gross and Minnichbach.
The Bullets finally got on the board in the fourth with a two-run homer of their own and then tied the game in the sixth after consecutive hits that brought in a pair of runners. Gettysburg added three more in the seventh, taking advantage of a series of passed balls.
The Bears had the tying run at the plate in the eighth after Matteo Falcone walked to get on base and Griffith was hit to put runners on first and second. However, a third-out strikeout retired the side as Ursinus fell in game one, 7-4.
Game 2
The home runs kept coming in game two. A two-run shot put the Bullets up right away in the first and the Bears matched with a three-run homer of their own by Jared Minnichbach to put Ursinus up 3-2.
Gettysburg tied the game in the top half of the second, but the Bears took command and never looked back in the bottom half. Ursinus used a five-run second inning to jump ahead to an 8-3 lead and set the tone.
With runners on second and third, Thomas Pancheri singled to bring in Will Peiffer and Eric Gross to score. Freshman Colby Chan then his first career home-run – a three-run shot to left – to make it five runs in the frame.
Playing with a lead, Nolan Graber was able to settle in. The Bears starter retired 15-of-17 after the second inning with the lone batters reaching on a single and an error. Strikeouts in the fifth and sixth kept things moving for the Bears in the outfield.
The Bullets scored two in the eighth to cut the Bears lead to 9-5.
Graber finished after 7.2 innings of play with five strikeouts then it was Brady Antolick who took over to finish the game. A groundout to second base secured the game two win for the Bears.
