NEWARK, Del. – A six-run seventh inning proved to be the difference as the Ursinus baseball team dropped its season opener, 6-3, to Misericordia University on Friday evening at the University of Delaware's Bob Hannah Stadium.
 

Junior Brandon Sullivan led the way for Ursinus, reaching base three times and finishing 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Sophomores Isaac Gesford and Matthew Callahan each added two hits and a run scored.

 
On the mound, senior Dan Bass pitched four shutout innings, allowing three hits, and striking out one. Junior Ben Couture and senior Max Shilstone each tossed scoreless appearances out of the bullpen for the Bears.

 
After a scoreless top of the first, Ursinus struck first with two runs in the bottom half of the inning to grab an early 2-0 lead. Sullivan led off with a single to right and moved into scoring position on a fielder's choice by Gesford. Following a strikeout and a flyout that advanced Sullivan to third, first-year Brett Barrett reached on a pitcher's error, allowing Gesford and Sullivan to score. First-year Nate Linden was hit by a pitch but was caught stealing second to end the inning.

 
Bass retired the Cougars in order in the second, recording two groundouts and a flyout. The Bears then used three singles and a sacrifice bunt to push across another run and extend the lead to 3-0. Callahan opened the frame with a single and advanced into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by senior George Nestor. After a flyout moved Callahan to third, Sullivan delivered an RBI single to center. Gesford followed with a single to right, but a strikeout stranded two runners.

 
Misericordia threatened in the third, putting two runners on via a single and a walk, but Bass induced a flyout to end the inning. In the bottom half, Kopec was hit by a pitch and Linden drew a walk, but a strikeout and a flyout left both runners stranded.
 

Bass closed out his outing in the fourth, working around two two-out singles to leave a runner in scoring position and maintain the three-run advantage. Misericordia placed two runners on to begin the fifth, but a strikeout, lineout and pop out kept the Cougars off the scoreboard.
 

The Cougars broke through in the seventh, scoring six runs on five hits, two walks and an error to take a 6-3 lead. Ursinus threatened in the bottom of the eighth when Kopec led off with a single. After a fielder's choice and a flyout, Callahan singled to bring the tying run to the plate. Nestor was hit by a pitch to load the bases, but a flyout ended the rally.

 
Junior Barritt Ross (0-1) took the loss for Ursinus. Misericordia's Jase Seltzer (1-0) earned the win with four shutout innings in relief.
 

The Bears return to action Saturday against Misericordia at the University of Delaware. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.