COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. – The Ursinus College softball team used six runs and timely pitching from Alexis Miller in game two to split Thursday's doubleheader with Muhlenberg. The Bears fell to the Mules in the opener, 4-1, before taking the second game, 6-3.
Miller improved to 3-0 on the season, allowing just three runs on 13 hits. Allyson Meakim and Mackenzie Brennan led the Bears at the plate. Meakim went a combined 2-for-4 with three RBIs and Brennan went 3-for-8 with a pair of RBIs over the two games.
Game 1
Thursday's doubleheader followed the same theme as the prior two for the Bears as Ursinus dropped game one before bouncing back to take game two.
After giving up two quick runs in the first, the Bears responded in the bottom half of the inning. Brennan led off with a single and then took advantage of Muhlenberg miscues in the outfield to score. Ursinus was unable to get more with runners on second and third as a groundout ended the side.
Just a one-run game through five, the Mules added to their lead in the fifth. A two-out single to left field with runners on second and third scored a pair of runs as the Bears went down 4-1.
Ursinus was unable to answer Muhlenberg this time around. Unable to get anything going at the plate, the Bears fell in game one for the third time this season.
Game 2
As they have all season, the Bears came back and responded in the second game. Muhlenberg came out and scored an early run in the opening frame, but Ursinus used a three-run third inning to jump ahead and never looked back.
Back-to-back singles to open the third put runners on first and second and then Meakim earned her first RBI of the game with a single to right field that put the Bears on the board. With the bases loaded and two out, Brennan found a gap through the left side, scoring two and giving the Bears a 3-1 lead.
The scoring didn't stop there. Once again with two outs, the Bears found hits when they needed them. Sam Williams split the infield and advanced to second to put two runners in scoring position. Meakim followed suit with a single of her own to bring both runners home and extended the Ursinus lead to 5-1.
With two outs in the fourth, Ally St. Jean brought in Morgan Comfort to put the Bears up 6-1. Of the Bears' six runs, five came with two outs on the board.
While it was the Bears offense coming up with timely hitting, Miller and Bears defense made timely plays in the outfield. Despite 10 hits through six innings, the Bears held the Mules to just one run.
With runners on first and second in the fourth inning, Sara Sullivan and Williams teamed up on a double-play to retire the side. Through six innings, the Mules got just one hit with runners in scoring position. Williams led the Bears outfield with seven put-outs while Sullivan and Amanda Panati each had three assists.
Muhlenberg made a late run in the seventh inning, scoring two to cut the Bears lead to 6-3 and bring the tying run to the playe. However, Miller forced a ground-out to Panati at second to secure the Ursinus win.
What's Next?
The Bears will have a day off before hosting Gettysburg for a doubleheader on Saturday, starting at 2 p.m.