CHESTEROTWN, MD. – A fast start in game two propelled the Ursinus College baseball team to a doubleheader split with Washington College on Saturday afternoon.
 

The Shoremen won the first contest, 4-3, before the Bears evened the series with an 8-7 victory in game two. With the split, Ursinus improves to 14-8 overall and open Centennial Conference action 1-1. Meanwhile, Washington College now sit at 15-8 on the season and open conference play with a 1-1 record.
 
 
Sophomore Brandon Sullivan extended his on-base streak to 24 games, earning a hit on each side of the doubleheader. In game two, Sullivan recorded four walks extending his Centennial Conference lead to 28 this season, while his three stolen bases increased his season to 26 this season. First-year Devin Fogg added two base hits in game one, while senior Andrew Richter went 2-for-4 with three RBI in the night cap. Richter's RBI single in the fourth inning of game two, marked his 100th hit of his career.
 
Game One: Ursinus 3, Washington College 4
 
Sullivan led off the game with a single into left field but would only reach second base as flyouts and a strikeout stranded him in scoring position. Meanwhile on the mound, junior Dan Bass made his sixth start of the season and retired six of the first seven batters he faced. In the bottom of the third, Washington College recorded the first two runs of the contest, capitalizing on two walks and a double with two outs.
 

Ursinus answered in the fourth inning, receiving a leadoff double from senior Peter Balos before a two-out single from Fogg made the score 2-1. The Shoremen regained a two-run advantage in the bottom of the fourth, as a leadoff homerun made the score 3-1. Bass settled in on the mound, recording two flyouts and a foul out to end the frame.  With the score 3-1 in the top of the seventh inning, Ursinus cut their deficit to one manufacturing a run behind a leadoff single from Fogg. Next, junior Mitch Garber reached on a walk, before both runners advanced into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by senior Jordan Williams. Sullivan loaded the bases on a hit-by-pitch, while a wild pitch allowed Fogg to score for the Bears. Unfortunately, back-to-back flyouts ended the inning with two runners in scoring position.
 
 
First-year pitcher Alex Grehawick relieved Bass on the mound and retired the side in order, pushing the contest into the eighth inning. Ursinus received base hits by senior Jude Gilhool and sophomore Barritt Ross, but were unable to find the tying run as a runner was stranded on third base. Washington College added an insurance run in the bottom half of the inning as a one-out homerun made the score 4-2. In the Bears final at-bat, Williams led off with a single and advanced into scoring position on a throwing error. After a wild pitch, Sullivan recorded an RBI groundout to score Williams and make the score 4-3. With two outs, Richter reached on a free pass and later advanced to third on a wild pitch. Unfortunately, the tying run would be stranded on third as a strikeout ended the contest with Ursinus falling, 4-3.
 
 
Game Two: Ursinus 8, Washington College 7
 
The Bears responded in the opening inning of game two, scoring two runs to capture an early 2-0 lead. Sullivan earned a leadoff walk, advanced to second on a stolen base, before reaching third on an infield error. With runners on the corners, Richter collected an RBI sacrifice bunt to score Sullivan and make the score 1-0. After a stolen base and a walk, senior Jude Gilhool plated the Bears second run on a sacrifice bunt to increase the Bears lead to two.
 
 
Senior lefty Kieran Hollander received the start in game two and turned in a stellar performance, pitching six innings, allowing one unearned run, three hits, and striking out three batters. Hollander allowed an unearned run to cross in the first inning, but ended the frame with a flyout and punchout to keep the Bears lead at 2-1. In the bottom of the second, Hollander faced a bases loaded jam but recorded a fielders' choice to strand the bases loaded for the Shoremen. Ursinus responded in the fourth inning, scoring four runs off three hits to extend their lead to 6-1. Junior Goerge Nestor led off with a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Williams. Senior Jakob Cantor reached on a hit-by-pitch, while a two-run single by Richter made the score 4-1. Next, Balos came through with his team-leading third homerun of the season stretch the Bears' lead to 6-1.
 
 
Hollander allowed a base runner in the bottom of the fourth inning but recorded a strikeout to escape the jam and keep Ursinus ahead by five. In the fifth frame, Cantor recorded a single with two outs to score Fogg and Ross, increasing the Bears advantage to 8-1. Hollander cruised through the fifth and sixth innings as he finished his outing, lowering his season ERA to 1.85. The Shoremen cut their deficit to 8-7 in the eighth inning, scoring six runs off five hits and two free passes. Washington College collected a pair of homeruns, but stranded the tying and go-ahead run on base with the contest entering the ninth inning. Ross took the mound for Ursinus in the ninth and recorded his third save of the season, retiring the side in order to give the Bears an 8-7 victory.
 
 
The Bears return to action on Tuesday, April 1st as they meet Swarthmore College for a mid-week home-and-home series against the Garnet.