COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. — A four-run seventh inning proved to be the difference as the Ursinus baseball team fell, 10-4, to Swarthmore College on Tuesday afternoon at Thomas Field.

With the loss, Ursinus drops to 14-8 overall and 1-2 in Centennial Conference play. The Garnet improve to 16-5 overall and 2-1 in conference action.

Sophomore Luke Kopec led the Bears offensively, going 3-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored. Senior Shane Beaver added two hits, while junior Brandon Sullivan reached base three times and scored a run.

Swarthmore scored the game's first three runs, using a solo home run in the second inning and a two-run home run later in the frame to take an early 3-0 lead. The Bears put a runner on base in each of the first three innings but were unable to capitalize.

The Garnet extended their lead to 5-0 in the fourth inning, scoring two runs on two hits and a Ursinus error. The Bears responded in the bottom half of the inning with two runs on two hits to cut the deficit to three. Kopec led off the frame by launching a line-drive home run over the left-field wall for his second of the season.

Beaver followed with a walk and moved into scoring position on a ground out by Isaac Gesford. First-year Brett Barrett then delivered an RBI triple to right-center field, scoring Beaver and trimming the deficit to 5-2. Ursinus, however, could not add more, as a lineout and a flyout ended the threat.

Senior pitcher Max Shilstone settled in during the fifth inning, recording two quick flyouts before stranding a runner in scoring position with a called third strike. Ursinus cut the deficit to 5-3 in the bottom of the inning as Sullivan doubled to right field and advanced to third on an error. Sophomore Matthew Callahan followed with a sacrifice fly to right, driving in Sullivan for his 25th RBI of the season, which ranks second on the team.

Swarthmore added a run in the sixth before breaking the game open with four runs on five hits in the seventh to extend its lead to 10-3. Ursinus loaded the bases with two outs in the inning, but a strikeout ended the rally.

The Bears placed two runners in scoring position in the eighth and added a run in the ninth on a groundout, but could not close the gap and fell 10-4. 

Ursinus returns to action Friday, April 3, when it travels to Swarthmore to complete the series. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.