AUBURNDALE, Fl. – The Ursinus College baseball team picked up a split against WPI on Friday night at the RussMatt Invitational in Florida. The Bears (7-9) took game one, 8-4, while the Engineers (4-4) won the nightcap, 6-2.
 

Freshman pitcher Daniel Bass recorded his third victory of the season on the mound while classmate Cameron Krugel tallied two base hits and three RBIs leading Ursinus to an 8-4 victory in game one.  



Game One: Ursinus 8, WPI 4

Junior pitcher Matt Tuley recorded the start on the mound for Ursinus and escaped the opening inning by rolling a 6-4-3 double play with WPI runners on the corners. The Engineers jumped on the scoreboard first in the top half of the second as after a leadoff double, WPI's Gavin George collected an RBI on a single into centerfield.
Ursinus answered in the bottom of the third, with four runs off five hits. Singles from sophomore Andrew Richter, junior Will Kelley, seniors Solomon Griffith, and Tom Snipes made it a 2-1 Bears lead before a big Krugel double plated two more to push it to a 4-1 advantage.
WPI quickly responded in the top of the fourth, scoring three runs off four hits, tying the contest at four a piece. Tuley's outing finished after four innings as he scattered eight hits, four earned runs, and three strikeouts while leaving the mound with a no decision. Bass took the mound for the Bears in the top half of the fifth and after allowing a leadoff baserunner he retired the Engineers in order.


 
The Ursinus offense regained an 8-4 lead in the bottom of the sixth inning after scoring four runs behind five hits. After a single from sophomore Jakob Cantor to lead off the inning, Richter launched a two-run homerun to give the Bears a 6-4 lead. First-year Kyle Rosenfeld followed up with a one-out single and later touched home when Griffith tallied his second base hit of the day with a single to center. Griffith swiped second base during the next at-bat and plated the fourth run of the inning behind a single from Krugel resulting his third RBI of the afternoon.


 
The Engineers would add two base hits during their final chance in the seventh inning, but on the mound, Bass delivered the final out via strikeout to give Ursinus the 8-4 victory.


 
Griffith and Snipes each tallied two hits at the plate for Ursinus, while Krugel and Richter totaled two hits apiece and combined for five RBIs.
 
 
Game Two: Ursinus 2, WPI 6

The Engineers jumped out to an early advantage in the second inning scoring two runs with one out after singles from Kyle DeRoma and Nicholas Battaglino. Sophomore lefty Kieran Hollander escaped the jam after picking off a runner at first base and striking out a batter to end the frame. WPI added two more runs in the third inning behind two hits and two walks. They stretched their lead to three as a leadoff triple scored on an RBI groundout from Joe Salvon and extended their advantage to four when a single from Cash snuck through the left side of the infield.
 


Ursinus threatened in the top of the fifth as the Bears loaded the bases behind two free passes and an WPI error, but a strikeout stranded three runners. After WPI added a run in the fifth, the Bears added two runs in the sixth inning to cut their deficit to three. Krugel opened with a one out walk and advanced to second as first-year Shane Beaver reached on a free pass. Cantor came through with an RBI on a single to left field and Richter tallied an RBI double to make the score 5-2 RPI. With two runners in scoring position, the Engineers recorded back-to-back strikeouts and a ground out to escape the inning.


 
WPI added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth inning in route to the 6-2 victory to split the two-game series. Hollander was dealt the loss in game two after surrendering two earned runs off six hits, two walks, and four strikeouts. Relievers Max Shilstone and Connor Bogansky combined for two innings out the bullpen allowing just one runs while fanning three batters. At the plate, Richter totaled two base hits and an RBI, while Kelley, Griffith, and Krugel each recorded a base knock.


 
The Bears return to action on Wednesday as they travel to No. 2 Salisbury University for a 3:30 p.m. start.