CHESTERTOWN, MD. – A stellar performance on the mound from sophomore
Dan Bass led the Ursinus College baseball team to a doubleheader split against Washington College on Saturday afternoon.
The Shoremen won the opening contest by a score of 18-8, while the Bears took the nightcap via a 7-2 score. With the split, Ursinus sits at 11-16 overall and 4-5 in Centennial Conference action. Meanwhile, Washington College improved to 7-23 on the season and 2-7 in conference play.
After dropping game one, Bass tied a career-high and pitched a season-best seven innings allowing just one earned run while scattering four hits and striking out five batters. First-year
Barritt Ross closed out the contest by pitching the final two innings and only allowing just one hit. At the plate, junior
Jude Gilhool tied a career high tallying four base hits behind a 4-for-5 day, while classmate
Andrew Richter added three hits in game one and sophomore
Shane Beaver finished 3-for-5 in game two.
Game One: Ursinus 8, Washington College 18
The Shoremen recorded multi-run innings in each of the first three innings, before adding a total of 10 runs over the final two innings to earn the 18-8 victory. Ursinus added the first run of the contest as three hits during the opening frame allowed the Bears to take an early 1-0 lead. With two outs, Richter collected a double to left center before coming around to score on a single by junior
Peter Balos. The Bears' threat ended as Ross added a double into right center field, but a great relay from the Shoremen defense cut a run down at the plate.
The Shoremen responded by adding three runs in the bottom half of the first inning as three consecutive base hits gave Washington College a 3-1 advantage. With two runners on, Ursinus escaped the jam as a flyout out and back-to-back groundouts ended the inning. Washington College added two runs in the second and third inning to increase their lead to 7-1 entering the fourth frame.
The Bears nearly cut into their deficit in the fourth inning as they loaded the bases with no outs. Richter led off with his second extra base hit, while Beaver reached on a fielder's choice and Ross added a walk. Unfortunately, a strikeout and a 6-3 double play closed out the inning with Ursinus trailing by six runs. After the Shoremen added a run in the fourth, Ursinus bounced back scoring four runs in the top of the fifth inning to cut their deficit to 8-5. Sophomore Geroge Nestor led off drawing a walk, while first-year
Brandon Sullivan singled, and junior
Jakob Cantor reached on an error. With the bases loaded and one out, Richter added his third hit via an RBI single to push the first run across the plate. Next, Beaver added a single down the left field scoring all three base runners to make the score 8-5. The Bears loaded the bases with two outs as free passes by Ross and junior
Jordan Williams put the go-ahead run at the plate. Unfortunately, the Bears rally ended there as popup to right field closed out the inning and stranded three runners.
In the top of the sixth inning, Ursinus added two more runs to cut their deficit to 8-7 as they recorded one hit and three walks during the frame. Junior
Cory Burns led off earning a walk and advanced to second on a free pass by Sullivan. After a Cantor single up the middle, Richter added an RBI on a hit-by-pitch before a fielder's choice pushed across another Ursinus run to make their deficit 8-7.
The Bears tied the game at eight apiece in the seventh inning as an RBI single from Gilhool scored Williams from third base. With two outs and two runners on base, Ursinus was unable to regain the lead as a flyout ended the inning. After being shutout for two innings, the Shoremen offense broke thorough in the bottom of the seventh inning scoring six runs to retake a 14-8 lead. Washington College added four runs in the eighth inning to stretch their lead to 10 and earn an 18-8 victory.
Game Two: Ursinus 7, Washington College 2
A much different contest during game two as the Bears totaled 16 hits, while Bass held the Shoremen to just five hits in the nightcap allowing Ursinus earn the 7-2 victory. The Bears struck first in the top of the second inning as they tallied two runs off three hits and two defensive errors to gain a 2-0 advantage. Beaver led off the frame reaching on a throwing error before advancing to second base on a wild pitch. Gilhool followed up an infield single but was cut down trying to swipe second base for the first out of the inning. Next, Ross earned an RBI on a sacrifice fly to right field and reached base as the Shoremen's right fielder misplayed the fly ball. Williams and senior
Dylan Crammer recorded base hits allowing the Bears to stretch their lead to 2-0.
Washington College added a run in the second inning, but Ursinus responded in the third frame with two runs to stretch their lead to 4-1. Richter led off with a single before advancing into scoring position on a single by Beaver. Gilhool followed up with a base knock allowing Richter to score and Beaver to reach third base. Next, Ross added his second sacrifice fly of the day to earn an RBI and give the Bears a three-run cushion.
The Shoremen loaded the bases in the third inning but were held to just one run as Bass recorded a pop up and strikeout to strand two runners on base. The Bears once again responded with a run in the fourth inning to increase their lead to 5-2. After a flyout to open the frame, Crammer tallied a double into left field before advancing to third on a ground out. With two outs and Crammer on third, Cantor knocked a single into right field to give Ursinus a three-run lead.
Bass allowed two base runners in the fourth frame, but settled down by recording a flyout and strikeout to close out the frame. In the bottom of the fifth inning, Bass allowed a leadoff single but retired the next three batters including a stellar double play from Richter at third base. With a runner on third base, Richter snagged a line drive before tagging the base to cut down the Shoremen runner. The Bears added two more runs in the sixth inning, while Bass and Ross would close out the contest on the mound to give Ursinus a 7-2 victory.
The Bears will return to action tomorrow as they host Franklin & Marshall for a Centennial Conference clash starting at 2pm from Thomas Field.
