COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. – The Ursinus College baseball team put on an incredible display of power hitting in an overwhelming 22-9 rout of Muhlenberg at Thomas Field.
The junior duo of Alex Mumme and Dom Fiorentino led the 22-run, 19-hit onslaught as they both crushed a pair of home runs to give the Bears a sweep of the Mules. It's believed to be the first time in school history that a pair of Ursinus sluggers left the yard twice in a game. Ursinus also posted its most runs in a Centennial Conference game since a 24-1 victory over Swarthmore in 2001.
Mumme's two blasts (a solo shot and grand slam) set the single-season and career records at Ursinus. He ended the day with ten homers for the season, moving his career total to 22. Mumme eclipsed 1981 graduate Craig Walck's 21-homer benchmark with a grand slam in the bottom of the fifth, part of an eight-run explosion that turned a tight game into a runaway. Mumme went 3-for-4 with five runs and five runs batted in.
Mumme and Fiorentino powered back-to-back blasts over the fence in the second to get things square at 4-4. Fiorentino finished with four hits, four runs, and four RBI atop the Bears' potent lineup.
Ursinus (16-13, 6-6) jumped out to an early 2-0 edge but the Mules eventually took an 8-4 lead in the fourth before a pair of huge innings by the Bears. The madness all started in the bottom of the fourth when the Bears plated six runs while sending 11 batters to the dish. After two runs in the sixth, the Bears scored 16 unanswered runs from the fourth to sixth before the Mules (16-14, 6-6) answered again in the seventh.
In the fourth, Fiorentino hit his second round-tripper of the game to the furthest part of the park in center. Freshman Jon Moldoff singled in Mumme, who reached on a walk. Moldoff drove in four runs.
The Bears worked three straight walks off the new Muhlenberg reliever to score a run. Junior Eric Gross then dropped in a two-run single to center to go up 9-8. Gross had a three-hit, three-RBI game. Junior Mike Stanziale then plopped a hit in front of the left fielder.
In the fifth, Ursinus posted an eight-spot in the line score. The Bears summoned a dozen hitters to the plate. Moldoff drove a sacrifice fly to left. Sophomore Jerry Scavone scorched an RBI liner past the third baseman. Gross collected a run batted in with a single to left, and Fiorentino walked with the bases loaded before Mumme cleared them with a grand slam to left field.
Sophomore Will Peiffer jacked a homer over the right-field scoreboard in the sixth to give the Bears 20 runs.
The Bears tacked on two more in the eighth on a hit by Fiorentino and a miscue by Muhlenberg.
Early on, Fiorentino floated a single to left field before Mumme hit a single the same way. Both runners moved up to second and third on an error by the left fielder. With one down, Moldoff roped a two-run single to right to give the Bears an early 2-0 lead.
Ursinus drew a dozen walks at the plate on the day.
Senior Carter Usowski doubled twice for the Bears. Sophomore Tom Jacobs continued his hot stretch as he collected two hits, including a double, and scored three times.
Freshman pitcher Ryan Schwab (1-0) picked up his first career win in relief as he worked 3 2/3 innings, allowing a run.
The Bears earned their sixth conference win, which topped last year's conference total even with six CC games to go. With six league games remaining, Ursinus trails Franklin & Marshall by one game for the fourth and final playoff spot.
Ursinus hits the road Saturday for a doubleheader at McDaniel, starting at noon. The Bears have an opportunity to take down the Green Terror twice for the third straight season.