COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. – The Ursinus baseball team swept McDaniel on Saturday afternoon. The Bears used timely hitting in game one to win, 9-6. In game two, it was Nolan Graber who was dominant on the mound. The senior pitched pitching an absolute beauty in game two, striking out 10 in the 6-2 victory. With the win, the Bears earned their second series sweep of the season.
The Bears also celebrated senior day on Saturday, celebrating the careers of Tom Jacobs, Drew Fowler, Eric Gross, Casey Fitzsimmons, Jerry Scavone, Connor Barrett, Nick DeFeo, R.J. Grace, A.J. Alvero, Will Peiffer, and Nolan Graber.
Game 1
The Bears opened up the scoring in game one in the second inning. Colby Chan led off with a single and was brought home on a Dan Icaza single to right field to put Ursinus ahead 1-0 early. The Green Terror took the lead in the top of the third, scoring two runs of their own as the Bears fell behind 2-1.
The two sides traded runs in the fourth before the Bears took control in the fifth with a four-run inning. Peiffer led things off with a single and then a McDaniel miscue in the outfield led to loaded bases for Ursinus.
The Bears took advantage. Eric Gross singled to left to bring Peiffer home and then good plate discipline from Matteo Falcone earned a walk and brought Jerry Scavone across the plate. A sac-fly from Dan Icaza made it three runs scored before another Green Terror error made it four runs for the Bears in the inning. After trailing going into the fifth, Ursinus led 6-3 and wouldn't look back.
McDaniel responded with another pair of runs in the seventh, but the Bears distanced themselves with another flurry of runs in the eighth. Peiffer reached based on an error and Jacobs singled to right to put runners on the corners to start the inning. A sac-bunt from Scavone brough Peiffer in to score. Back-to-back hits, a single Tim Pyne and triple from Gross, made it 9-5 for the Bears.
The Green Terror added a run in the ninth, but the Bears came away with a 9-6 win to start the day.
Game 2
After a combined 15 runs were scored in the opener of the doubleheader, both teams started slow at the plate in game two. Graber struck out two back-to-back in the second and added another one in the third.
Despite each team loading the bases, it was a pitcher's duel in the game's first three innings.
McDaniel finally ended the drought in the fourth inning with a solo run on an RBI-double.
The Bears struggled to find room against the Green Terror's starting pitcher, Matt Mondrone. However, after a lot of patience, they finally broke through in the sixth. Scavone and Peiffer led off the inning with back-to-back singles to put pressure on the McDaniel outfield. It would be enough as a Green Terror error led to a pair of runs, giving the Bears a 2-1 lead.
McDaniel responded with a run of their own in the top of the seventh to tie the game. However, it was Ursinus who took control late with a four-run seventh inning.
Icaza got things going with a lead-off double and was brought home by Scavone who hit a double of his own. Another double to right center, this one from Jacobs, brought in both Peiffer and Scavone. The Bears ended the inning how they started it, with their fourth double of the inning. Pyne hit a well-placed ball through the right side, bringing in Jacobs to put Ursinus ahead 6-2.
Graber remained sharp all the way into the bottom of the ninth. The senior got his ninth strikeout to put two outs on the board and then secured the win with another swinging strikeout to give him 10 on the day.
What's Next?
The Bears wrap up their season on Wednesday at home against Muhlenberg.