NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – The Ursinus softball team opened their 2023 spring break trip with a pair of wins over Lancaster Bible and Centenary on Sunday morning at the North Myrtle Beach Sports Complex. The Bears rallied to beat the Chargers 5-4 in game one before shutting out the Cyclones 4-0 in game two.
 
 
With the wins, the Bears improve to 4-0 overall for the first time since the 2010 season. It was the opening season game for the Chargers while the Cyclones fell to 0-2.
 
 
Ursinus 5, Lancaster Bible 4
 
The Chargers got on the board to take an initial 1-0 lead in the top of the first after taking advantage of a stolen base and wide throw that advanced the runner to third. Sophomore Samantha Mallen quickly started the rally for the Bears in the bottom half of the inning as she singled and stole second. A groundout advanced her to third and sophomore Stephanie Wichman followed with a single to drive her in and tie the game at one. Lancaster Bible countered in the top of the second with a run from single to center that pushed across the Chargers leadoff batter of the inning that was in scoring position. The Chargers added to their lead in the top of the fourth after getting a two-out RBI single that just snuck through up the middle to make it 3-1. The Bears rallied in the bottom half of the fourth by getting two runs to tie the game at three behind using small ball. Senior Anna Mefford got the first run across with a well-executed bunt single and Mallen followed by hitting a sharp grounder to short to score the second run. After Wichman struck out the side in the top of the fifth, the Bears took their first lead of the game at 5-3 when senior Jordan Moore hit a ball that went under the glove of the Chargers shortstop to score runners on second and third base. Lancaster Bible got a run in the top of the sixth after taking advantage of an outfield error, but Wichman got out of the sixth and retired the side to preserve the win.
 

Ursinus 4, Centenary 0
 
It was a scoreless dual until the bottom of the fourth inning when junior Maddie Solow came through with a two-out two-run single to put the Bears in front 2-0. Senior Amanda Panati led the inning off with a single and classmate Allyson Meakim started the two out rally with a single to left and advanced to second on the throw. Ursinus added two more insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth behind a pair of doubles from Wichman and Solow. The runs were more than enough for first-year pitcher Christa Andrusiewicz, who tossed her first collegiate complete game shutout in the contest.
 
 
Andrusiewicz was brilliant in the circle against Centenary as she allowed just four hits and struck out seven batters while walking none in her 80 pitches. She also pitched against the Chargers and allowed three runs (one earned) on three hits with two walks in four innings of work. Wichman closed the door in game one by throwing three innings of one-hit one-run ball while striking out six. She was equally as effective at the plate by going a combined 3-of-5 from the plate with a pair of RBI's. Solow went 2-of-3 from the plate in game two and drove in three of the four Bears runs.
 
 
Alyssa Paulson led the Chargers offense by going 2-of-3 from the plate with two RBI's. Alyssa Hamilton was dealt the loss after allowing five runs (three earned) on eight hits while striking out three in six innings. Four different Cyclones recorded hits and starting pitcher Julia Campen suffered the loss after throwing all six innings while allowing four earned runs on six hits with one strikeout.
 
 
The Bears return to action tomorrow, March 6th as they will take on Penn State Altoona at 11:00 a.m. before facing Penn State Harrisburg at 5:00 p.m.