AUBURNDALE, Fla. – Nick DeFeo and Nolan Graber each delivered a gem as the Ursinus College baseball team split an extra inning-laden twin bill with Mount Union on Monday afternoon.

The right-handers each went a full nine innings and allowed only one run for the Bears, who dropped a 2-1 heartbreaker in 14 innings in the opener before busting out for four runs in the ninth inning of a 5-1 victory in Game Two.

Scheduled for a pair of seven-inning contests, the teams wound up playing 23 frames. Between DeFeo, Graber, and Casey Fitzsimmons, the Bears (5-3) allowed only three runs – two of them earned – with 16 strikeouts to just one walk.

Game 1

DeFeo was nothing shy of brilliant, an unearned run in the second his only blemish over nine dazzling innings. He struck out 10 without a walk and permitted only one Mount Union base runner to reach second base.

Ursinus seized an early lead on Jerry Scavone's RBI double in the first, which scored Eric Gross from first after he was hit by a pitch with one out. Mount Union came back with one of its own in the following inning, tying the game thanks to a two-out error.

Neither pitching staff gave any quarter over the scheduled seven innings, and several beyond that. While DeFeo continued to dominate, the Bears had several chances at a go-ahead run but were unable to capitalize.

Ursinus went hitless in its first 13 at-bats with men in scoring position, which included a golden opportunity to walk it off in the bottom of the 11^th. Scavone roped a double down the left-field line, and Jon Moldoff reached on an error. Alex Mumme was then intentionally walked to load the bases with nobody out, but the first out came on a fielder's choice throw to home and the Purple Raiders got out of the jam with a by throwing Moldoff out at home on a fly ball to left by Tom Jacobs.

The Bears were set up to win again in the 12^th, when Mike Stanziale led off with a single and went to third on a wild pitch with just one out, but they were thwarted once again as Gross' bid for a game-winning hit was snared at shortstop.

Casey Fitzsimmons picked up right where DeFeo left off, retiring the first 13 hitters he faced until giving up a one-out single in the 14^th. A throwing error on a pick-off attempt allowed the runner to take third, but Fitzsimmons got the second out on a shallow fly to left. Thomas Gallant, however, delivered the go-ahead run with a double to left.

Matteo Falcone led off the 14^th with a pinch-hit single, but was erased on a game-ending double play.

Game 2

The nightcap played out in much the same way, with runs and clutch hits hard to come by. Mount Union scored first with a single run in the second, only for Jake Supran to connect on his first career home run in the top of the third.

The breakthrough came a little earlier this time, albeit well into extras. Connor Barrett and Supran started the rally with back-to-back infield singles and Fiorentino walked to pack the sacks. After a strikeout, Scavone came through with a sacrifice fly to give the Bears the lead. Ursinus racked on three more two-out runs on a single by Moldoff and a two-run double off the bat of Stanziale.

Graber was locked in from the start and, like DeFeo, ate up a full nine innings. He scattered seven hits and struck out three, walking only one.

Supran finished 2-for-4 and scored twice, with Scavone reaching base three times on a single and two walks.

Up Next

The Bears return to action on Wednesday with a doubleheader against Becker.