COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. – The Ursinus College baseball team battled throughout but ultimately fell to Haverford College, 12-9, on Friday evening at Thomas Field.
 

With the loss, Ursinus drops to 17-15 overall and 4-8 in Centennial Conference action. The Fords improved to 17-12 on the season and 6-6 in conference play. Sophomore Brandon Sullivan led the Bears' offense, finishing 2-for-5 with two runs scored. Seniors Andrew Richter and Peter Balos, along with senior Jakob Cantor, each recorded two hits. On the mound, senior Mike Scheller shined in relief, pitching three shutout innings while allowing one hit and striking out one.


Haverford opened the scoring in the first inning, tallying two runs on three hits. The Fords hit a leadoff home run, then added a second run on a two-out RBI single. Ursinus responded in the bottom half, scoring three runs on three hits and three free passes to take a 3-2 lead. Sullivan led off with a single and advanced into scoring position on a stolen base. After a walk by Richter and a passed ball that scored the Bears' first run, Balos collected an RBI single to tie the game at 2-2. Ursinus added its final run of the inning when first-year Devin Fogg was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
 

However, Haverford answered with five runs on four hits in the second inning to regain a 7-3 advantage. The Fords strung together four singles in the frame, three of which drove in runs. Ursinus responded with two runs in the bottom of the third to cut the deficit to 7-5. Cantor led off with a line-drive single to right field and scored on an RBI double by junior George Nestor. Nestor then advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a throwing error.

 
After Haverford added a run in the fourth, Ursinus again responded with two runs in the bottom half to pull within one at 8-7. Balos notched his second RBI of the game with a single to left, scoring Sullivan from third. Later in the inning, Cantor hit a sacrifice fly to bring home Richter.

 
Haverford's offense continued to capitalize, scoring two runs in the fifth and one in the sixth to extend the lead to 11-7. In the bottom of the sixth, seniors Jude Gilhool, Cantor, and Nestor drew consecutive walks to load the bases with one out. Junior Mitchell Garber reached on an infield error, and a wild throw allowed two Bears to score, making it 11-9. Garber added an RBI single in the eighth, but the Bears were unable to complete the comeback and fell 12-9.
 

The Bears return to action Saturday morning as they travel to face No. 23 Gettysburg College in a doubleheader starting at noon.