ALLENTOWN, Pa. – The Gettysburg College softball team split its Centennial Conference opener at Muhlenberg College on Saturday.
The Mules (15-5, 1-1 CC) scored early on to seal the 2-0 win, but the Bullets (11-9, 1-1 CC) bounced back in game two by tallying eight runs, 12 hits, and seven RBI to claim the 8-4 victory.
Muhlenberg started the bottom of the first inning with two outs, but back-to-back hits prevailed the hosts to score a run.
The bases were loaded in the bottom of the second frame as the Mules opened the inning with a single and back-to-back fielder's choices. On the next at-bat, Sarah Raab notched an RBI single bunt to score the second run for Muhlenberg.
The Bullets struggled offensively as they went three up, three down from the second inning until the fifth and only registered two hits total between the sixth and seventh frame.
Junior
Rachel Julie (Elmsford, N.Y./Briarcliff), senior
Meredith Taylor (Hamilton, N.J./Northern Burlington), and sophomore
Brynn Griffith (Maple Glen, Pa./Hatboro-Horsham) each produced a hit.
Senior
Morgan Clauser (Columbus, N.J./Northern Burlington) posted the loss after allowing seven hits, two runs (one earned) and struck out four.
Game two started out how the opener did, but that quickly changed in the third inning. The Mules, once again, grabbed a run in the bottom of the first inning to hold an early advantage. Gettysburg blossomed in the top of the third frame as they spurted six runs with a two-RBI single from junior
Taylor Doi (Foster City, Calf./San Mateo), a two-RBI double from sophomore
Shelby Baker (Pickerington, Ohio/Pickerington North), and a sacrifice fly from Griffith.
The Mules added another run in the bottom of the fourth to come within four (6-2).
Taylor opened the top of the fifth with a single to right field and advanced to second base off an error by the right fielder. The next two batters fouled out to left field, but sophomore
Brooke Studnik (Miami, Fla./Dr.Michael M. Krop) swung an RBI single through the right side to bring Taylor home for the Orange and Blue. Freshman
Kyleigh Dinnien (Ambler, Pa./Hatboro-Horsham) posted the eighth run in the top of the sixth to push the lead to six (8-2).
Muhlenberg threatened a comeback in the bottom of the sixth inning with a two-RBI single, but the Mules never went past second base the rest of the game.
Taylor and Doi led the offense for the Bullets as each plated three hits and a run scored. Taylor and Baker paced the team with two RBI each with the latter adding a double.
Clauser won her ninth game after playing another complete game from the circle and finished with five strikeouts.
Gettysburg hosts non-conference opponent Messiah College on Tuesday at 3 p.m.
