FAIRFAX, Va. – The Ursinus College baseball team nearly completed the comeback in each contest, but unfortunately fell short against Hood College and Misericordia University on Saturday afternoon.
 

Against Hood, Ursinus put the tying and go-ahead runners on base in the final frame but was unable to score, falling 5-4. Against the defending national champions in game two, Ursinus brought the tying run to the on-deck circle but came away empty, losing 4-1. Sophomore outfielder Barritt Ross shined in the first contest finishing 3-for-3 at the plate with two runs scored and two RBIs Against Misericordia, senior Andrew Richter paced the Bears offense finishing 1-for-4 with an RBI.
 

Ursinus 4, Hood College 5

Junior left-hander Brett Mutz got the opening-day start for the Bears on the mound and retired the first five batters he faced. He collected a pair of strikeouts in the first and second inning for the Bears, before recording a flyout to close out the second frame.
 

The Bears' offense collected their first base hit in the top of the third inning as Ross singled to center field and advanced into scoring position on a walk from sophomore Brandon Sullivan. Ross and Sullivan each stole a bag, while a walk from senior Jacob Cantor loaded the bases with one out. Unfortunately, Ursinus stranded the bases loaded as a strikeout and groundout closed out the frame with the score tied at zero. Hood College added two runs in the fourth inning, including a solo homerun and a runner scoring on a passed ball, to take an early 2-0 lead.

 
In the top of the fifth inning, Ursinus answered with a run of their own on a single by senior Peter Balos to make the score 2-1. Ross got the inning started with a walk and his second stolen base, while a walk from Cantor put two runners on base. After a flyout, Balos came through with the two out base hit for the Bears' first run of the season. The rally came to an end as a groundout closed out the inning with two runners in scoring position.
 

With Hood leading 3-2 in the seventh inning, a two-out double scored two runs, extending the Blazers' lead to 5-2. Senior right hander Mike Scheller closed out the inning by recording a groundout to escape the jam. Ursinus answered in the following inning, scoring two runs on a double from Ross to cut their deficit to 5-4. Senior Jordan Williams reached on a hit-by-pitch, and a free pass from first-year Devin Fogg put two runners on base. After a sacrifice bunt from junior Kyle Rosenfeld advanced both runners into scoring position, Ross came through with the two-out double into left field. Sullivan followed up with a walk, but a groundout ended the top of eighth inning with two runners stranded on base.
 

Senior lefty David Morgan came on to pitch in the bottom of the eighth inning and danced around a pair of base runners to keep the Bears' deficit at 5-4 entering their final chance at the plate. Richter led off the frame with a walk, and a single from Williams put the go-ahead run on base with one out. Junior Tyler Dinan pinch-ran and stole third but was stranded there as a strikeout and flyout ended the contest.
 
Ursinus 1, Misericordia 4

The defending national champions struck first in the top of the opening frame as four walks and a single gave the Cougars an early 2-0 lead. In the bottom half of the first, Cantor recorded a one-out but was stranded on third as consecutive ground outs ended the inning.
 

Misericordia put a pair of runners on base to open the third inning, but junior pitcher Dan Bass stranded them on base as two flyouts and a strikeout ended the jam. After the Bears went down in order, the Cougars added an insurance run in the fourth inning as a single with two outs made the score 3-0. Ursinus responded in the bottom of the sixth inning as Sullivan led off with a walk and advanced into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt. Next, Richter came through with a single into center field to make the score 3-1.

 
The Cougars responded with a run in the seventh to bring the Bears deficit to 4-1. A leadoff double and back-to-back sacrifice bunts brought the run across the plate, while a strikeout from the Bears pitching staff stranded a runner on third. In Ursinus' final chance at the plate, Williams opened with a single to center and advanced into scoring position on a bunt from Fogg. Unfortunately, Williams would be stranded there as a flyout ended the contest with Ursinus falling 4-1.

 
On the mound, first-year Chase Martin and Alex Grehawick each made their collegiate debuts for the Bears. Martin pitched five innings in relief allowing just three hits, two earned runs, and two strikeouts. Meanwhile, Grehawick fanned a batter over a clean inning of relief.

 
The Bears return to action tomorrow as they close out their opening weekend with a matchup against Elmira College starting at noon.