After winning games in 11 innings, 12 innings and 14 innings to get to the verge of a playoff spot, the Muhlenberg baseball team needed just one inning to take the final step.

The Mules scored seven runs in the bottom of the fifth inning and went on to defeat Dickinson, 10-1, in their regular-season finale. Muhlenberg finished in a tie for fourth place in the Centennial Conference with Swarthmore and earned the fourth and final playoff spot because of a season sweep of the Garnet.

The Mules (20-17, 10-8), who are in the playoffs for the second straight year and the sixth time overall, will travel to top-seeded Johns Hopkins for a first-round playoff game on Thursday. The remainder of the double-elimination tournament, which also includes Haverford and Franklin & Marshall, will take place at Johns Hopkins on Saturday and Sunday.

Muhlenberg honored its seven seniors - Seth Wasserman, Jon Capra, Kenny Freid, Chris Grillo, RJ Hennessey, Justin Revel and Matt Riebesell (pictured left to right above) - prior to the game on its twice-delayed Senior Day. The win was the 73rd for the class, putting them into a tie for second place among the program's all-time winningest classes. Only the seniors who graduated in 2003 won more games as Mules (75).

A sophomore, Truman Devitt, stole the show against the Red Devils (22-15, 9-9), who needed a win and a Swarthmore loss to clinch their first playoff berth since 2004. Devitt pitched seven sparkling innings, allowing no runs on four hits. Only six Dickinson batters reached base against him, and none advanced past second. 

The Mules broke a scoreless tie in the third, when senior John Serruto led off with a double and went to third on a bunt single by sophomore Robert Cappadona. The two runners scored on a wild pickoff throw and bases-loaded walk, respectively.

Serruto walked and eventually scored on a passed ball to make it 3-0 in the fourth, and Muhlenberg turned the game into a runaway the following inning.

With the bases loaded and one out, junior Brenden Weiss doubled down the right-field line on an 0-2 pitch to bring home two runs. Serruto followed with a two-run single to center. 

A bloop RBI single by Riebesell and a two-run single by junior Jack Avallone capped the seven-run outburst.

Serruto reached base in four of his five plate appearances, with two hits and two of the 11 walks the Mules received. Cappadona also had two hits. 

With the doubles by Weiss and Serruto, Muhlenberg set team records for doubles (85) and extra-base hits (110) in a season.

The 20-win season is the fifth in program history, and the first since 2013.