LEXINGTON, Va. – A seven run fifth inning proved to be the difference as the Ursinus College baseball team dropped their 2023 season opener via a 14-3 score at Washington & Lee on Saturday.
 


The Bears opened the contest with a two-run first inning as Senior Tom Snipes delivered a one-out double to deep center field to plate two baserunners. After a lineout to the pitcher opened the contest, sophomore Andrew Richter forced a walk from the Generals starter and advanced to scoring position behind a line-drive base hit to left field from senior Solomon Griffith. Snipes jumped on the first pitch of the at bat and one hoped the fence for the two-run double. After a swinging strikeout for the second out, sophomore Peter Balos chopped a single through the left side of the infield for a base hit but a great throw from the Generals left fielder cut down Snipes trying to score from second.


 
Senior Casey Murphy stepped up to the mound for Ursinus in the bottom half of the inning and with the Generals threatening with two men in scoring position, Murphy used a punch-out and a fly out to left field to get out of the jam.


 
After the Bears went down in order in the top of the second inning, Washington & Lee would cut their deficit in half scoring a run on an infield hit. The Generals capitalized on a one out walk and back-to-back base hits, but Murphy kept the Bears in front with a 5-4-3 double play to get out of the jam. In the bottom of the third, Washington & Lee would open with runners on the corners after a leadoff walk and single into right field. They would tie the score at two a piece via a sacrifice fly, but senior Nick Diaz threw out a runner trying to steal, and Murphy fanned the Generals No.5 hitter to escape the inning.


 
In the top of the fourth inning, Washington & Lee's pitcher John Benner would retire the side in order and struck out two batters to retire nine consecutive Bears in a row. Murphy settled down for Ursinus in the bottom half of the frame, retiring the leadoff man via a groundout and back-to-back punch outs kept the score tied through four innings.


 
The Bears responded with a run in the fifth inning to recapture a 3-2 lead. First-year Cameron Krugel led off the inning with an infield hit to the left side of the field and advanced to second after senior Thomas Pancheri earned a base on balls. After a Generals mound visit, Krugel advanced to third on an error the W&L pitcher. Junior Jared Minnichbach earned his first RBI of the season after lifting a sacrifice fly to centerfield.


 
Washington & Lee answered in the home half of the fifth scoring seven runs and recapturing a 9-3 lead behind six hits and three free passes. Junior Matt Tuley replaced Murphy midway through the inning on the mound and retired the final batter via a groundball to third. The Generals would add a few insurance runs in the late innings, but their pitching staff retired six straight Bears as the contest ended in the seventh inning.



Washington & Lee's John Benner (1-0) earned the victory on the mound behind allowing just four hits over six innings of work and striking out seven batters. Jack Belbot pitched one inning of relief for the Generals fanning two batters, while Murphy was handed the loss after pitching 4.1 innings and giving up seven hits, three walks, and six earned runs. Tuley and first-year Max Shilstone combined to pitch 2 2/3 innings of relief.

 
The Bears will return to action tomorrow as they look to split the two game series with the Generals with first pitch set for 1 p.m.