FORT PIERCE, FL. – The Ursinus College baseball team wrapped up their Florida spring break training trip, falling to Elizabethtown College in a doubleheader on Thursday afternoon.
The Bears (3-7) dropped game one by a 12-0 decision before losing game two by a 4-0 score. The Blue Jays capitalized through the first three innings of both games scoring a total of 15 runs, while Ursinus allowed just one run from the fourth inning on in both contests.
Game One: Elizabethtown 12, Ursinus 0 (F7)
Elizabethtown jumped out to an early 5-0 advantage during the first inning behind five hits and capitalizing on a Bears' defensive error. After a flyout to start the game, the Blue Jays tallied three consecutive singles before a fielder's choice, a single, and double brought in the five runs for Elizabethtown.
Ursinus was retired in order during their first chance at the plate, while the Blue Jays stretched their lead to 6-0 in the second after scoring a run on a wild pitch. Junior shortstop
Jakob Cantor recorded the Bears first hit in the second after an infield single but was stranded on first as a strikeout ended the frame. Elizabethtown added six runs in the third frame to stretch their advantage to 12-0 through three innings.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Ursinus received back-to-back singles by juniors
Dylan Runsdorf and
Andrew Richter, but they would be stranded on base as a strikeout and a 4-6-3 double play ended the frame. Junior
Jordan Williams and sophomore
Mitchell Garber each tallied base hits later in the contest, but the lead proved to be too large as Ursinus fell 12-0 in seven innings. First-year
Nick Crocona shined during his second appearance of the season on the mound, pitching three innings allowing just one hit and retiring nine of the 11 batters he faced.
Game Two: Ursinus 0, Elizabethtown 4 (F7)
The Bears nearly struck in the first frame as they put two runners in scoring position, but a groundout ended the threat and brought the Blue Jays to the plate. Elizabethtown once again struck in the first inning as they scored three runs off four hits to gain an early 3-0 lead.
During the middle innings both starting pitchers held the opposing offenses off-balance as neither team threatened to score. Elizabethtown added an insurance run in the fifth frame as a walk forced a run to increase the Blue Jays lead to 4-0. First-year
Ryan Barrow relieved sophomore starter
Dan Bass on the mound with the bases loaded and escaped the jam via a punchout. Elizabethtown would hold onto the 4-0 lead and earn the doubleheader sweep.
On the mound, Bass was dealt the loss after pitching 4.2 innings, allowing nine hits, four earned runs, and striking out five Blue Jays. Meanwhile, Barrow continues to shine for Ursinus as he pitched 1.1 innings allowing just two hits. It marks as Barrow's third consecutive scoreless outing of the season.
The Bears return to action on Wednesday, March 13th as they host Rosemont College for a 3 p.m. start time at Thomas Field.
