COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. – The Ursinus Softball team used a fast start in game two to earn a split with Washington College on Saturday afternoon at the Snell Softball Field in Centennial Conference action. The Bears overcame a 9-5 setback in game one with an 8-5 win in game two.
With the split, the Bears record moves to 19-16 overall and 7-7 in Centennial Conference play as they enter the final week of the regular season. Meanwhile, the Shorewomen moved to 10-22 overall and 5-7 in Centennial Conference play.
In game one, the Bears took advantage of a fielding error at second base that would have ended the bottom of the first by scoring a pair of runs to take an early 2-0 lead. Senior
Stephanie Wichman singled in first-year
Reagan Robinson one batter after the fielding error allowed the first run to score. However, the Shorewomen immediately responded with four runs on three hits and one error in the top of the second to go up 4-2. Washington College added a run in the top of the third to go up 5-2 before the Bears scored two runs in the bottom half to make it a 5-4 game. The Bears loaded the bases with two outs and scored the first run off a wild pitch. Junior
Riley Coneeny pushed across the second run with an infield single to second base. Washington College added runs in the top of the fourth and sixth to go up 7-4 before first-year
Anna Evanchik made it a 7-5 with a two-out RBI single in the bottom of the sixth. The Shorewomen scored two more runs in the top of the seventh to go back up 9-5 and retired the Bears in order that ended the game.
Washington College scored first in game two to go up 1-0 in the top of the first following three straight singles. The Bears delivered a decisive five-run bottom of the first to respond behind six hits and one error. Mallen led the inning off with a single and stole second before advancing to third on a bunt single from Evanchik. She scored on a throwing error into the outfield after Evanchik stole second and junior
Kayla Carr homered just over the right field fence in the at-bat that quickly made it 3-1. Ursinus loaded the bases behind a walk and two singles to set up sophomore
Madyson Hickman to single in the fourth run. An RBI ground out from senior
Rachel Hartman capped the inning for the Bears to put them up 5-1. The Shorewomen knocked in a run in the top of the fifth on a single, but first-year
Lucy Wolf worked her way out of the inning and stranded two runners in the top of the sixth to preserve the lead. Ursinus got three very valuable insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth with two outs to go up 8-2 behind five hits. Mallen started things once again with a single and stolen base before making her way to third on a ground out. Robinson dropped a single into right field for the first run and advanced to second after the ball got by the Shorewomen's right fielder. Wichman singled in Robinson for the second run and junior
Keelie Hancock doubled to move Wichman to third. Hickman came through with a single to centerfield to make it 8-2. The Shorewomen got three runs after an error kept the top of the seventh inning going but Wichman worked her way out of the frame to preserve the win.
Wichman tallied two hits apiece in each game while posting an RBI in each game and grabbing the save in game two. Mallen went 2 for 4 with two runs scored in game two and swiped a total of three bases to reset her own single-season stolen base school record from 2023. Evanchik, Carr, Hancock, Hickman, and Mills all posted two hits in game two. Wolf earned the win after allowing two earned runs on eight hits while striking out four and walking two.
The Bears return to action on Tuesday, April 22nd as they will host Franklin & Marshall for their final Centennial Conference doubleheader of the regular season starting at 3:00 p.m.
