CLERMONT, Fla. – The Ursinus softball team swept a pair of games on their third day in Florida as they defeated Capital 8-5 in extra innings before earning a dominant 16-2 win over Marywood in five innings on Monday.
With the wins, the Bears improved to 4-1 overall and have won three-straight games. Meanwhile, Capital stands at 1-2 and Marywood now sits at 1-1 overall.
Ursinus 8, Capital 5 (8 innings)
Junior Allyson Meakim roped a one out double in the top of the first to set the Bears up with a runner in scoring position. Meakim advanced to third after a Capital fielding error and came around to score one batter later to put Ursinus up 1-0 after an errant throw to second from the Comets catcher. Capital quickly struck back in the bottom of the first and went up 2-1 after having their first three runners reach base. Ursinus loaded the bases in the top of the second with one out before a strikeout and lineout ended the frame but Bears first-year starting pitcher Stephanie Wichman rebounded by retiring the Comets in order during the bottom half of the inning. Sophomore Maddie Solow then hit the first home run of the 2022 season for the Bears with one out in the top of the third to tie the game at two. Capital responded again in the bottom of the third with a home run of their own to left field and retook the lead at 3-2. A pair of singles put Ursinus in business during the top of the fourth and the batters advanced to second and third on a groundout. Meakim came through with two outs by hitting a sharp single down the left field line score both runners and put the Bears back in front at 4-3.
The Comets seemed poise to respond again as they put runners on first and third with no outs following a single and double to lead off the bottom half of the fourth. Senior Kayla McTamney entered the circle for the Bears and escaped the inning with no runs allowed after nearly turning a triple play during her first batter faced. Ursinus had a chance to extend its lead in the top of the fifth after putting runners on first and third with two outs, but junior Jordan Moore was robbed of driving both runners in after her drive to right center was caught on a dive by the Comets centerfielder. Capital tied the game at four in the bottom of the fifth on a bloop single with two outs after their first batter of the inning led the frame off with a double. The Bears looked to take the lead back after putting runners on first and third with one out in the top of the sixth. However, a pop out from a bunt attempt turned into a double play and ended the threat. Capital had the next major threat to score in the bottom of the seventh when they advanced runners to second and third with two outs. McTamney once again escaped the jam for the Bears by inducing a ground out to force extra innings. Ursinus jumped on the Comets in the top of the eighth as they scored four runs on four hits with one error to go up 8-4. Junior Amanda Panati came around to score on a throwing error following a bunt attempt after being placed on second base to start the inning due to the international tiebreak rule. Senior Mackenzie Brennan drove in junior Jordan Moore with a single and Solow provided the final two runs with a two-out two-run single. Capital added one last run on a groundout, but McTamney ended the game by forcing a fly out to right field.
Ursinus 16, Marywood 2 (5 innings)
After a scoreless 1 ½ innings to start the game, the Bears took control of the contest by scoring eight runs with two outs on five hits plus one error. Sophomore Sara Sullivan reached on an errant throw from the Pacers third baseman, stole second base, and then ended up on third base following a passed ball. First-year Samantha Mallen drove in Sullivan with a single to get the Bears on the board and back-to-back walks pushed the second run across for Ursinus. Meakim continued her momentum from the first game with a two-run double down the left field line and senior Ally St. Jean pushed two more across with a double of her own. Solow scored St. Jean with a single and came around to score the final run of the inning for the Bears on a single from Sullivan. Marywood began to rally as they scored two runs on five hits in the top of the third inning before a strikeout stranded a pair of runners. Ursinus put the game away with their second eight-run inning of the contest in the bottom of the fourth.
Brennan led the bottom of the fourth off a double to left field and came around to score on a single from St. Jean. A single from Solow plus a hit by pitch loaded the bases for Moore, who came through with a two-run single to left centerfield to make it an 11-2 game. Panati extended the lead to 12-2 with a single in the next at-bat and the Bears added four more runs after a dropped would-be third out at third base extended the inning. Sophomore pitcher Lauren Lofland closed the game out for the Bears in the fifth by retiring the Pacers in order while striking out two batters.
Meakim powered the Bears offense by going 6-of-9 from the plate in the two games, behind going 4-of-5 against Capital, and tallied six RBIs with two runs scored. Solow went 4-of-9 from the dish and drove in four runs in addition to her home run. St. Jean went 2-of-3 from the plate against Marywood with three RBI's and two runs scored. McTamney earned the win against Capital after throwing five innings in relief while allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits. Junior Alexis Miller registered the win against the Pacers after allowing two earned runs on nine hits with three strikeouts in four innings of work.
The Bears return to action on Wednesday, March 9th following an off day and will take on Hiram at 10:15 a.m. before taking on Concordia-Chicago at 12:30 p.m. from Legends Way Ballfields in Clermont.