The Muhlenberg baseball team scored three runs in the ninth and one in the 11th to come from behind and defeat Swarthmore, 9-8.

It was the first time since 2013 that the Mules won a game in which they entered the ninth inning trailing by at least three runs, and it came against one of the best teams in the country. Swarthmore is the defending Centennial Conference champion and has been ranked in the top 10 in Division III all season (currently ninth).

Muhlenberg (13-12, 3-4) completed its stretch of four CC games in three days with a 3-1 record, tying the game in the ninth and winning in extras twice. 

Junior Jack Avallone drove in the winning run in the top of the 11th with a single, the last of the Mules' 18 hits. Senior Chris Grillo went 4-for-6, including two doubles, and scored the winning run, while senior Matt Riebesell and Avallone had three hits apiece.

Trailing 8-5 heading into the ninth and facing a 2018 first-team All-CC lefty, Muhlenberg closed to within a run on back-to-back RBI doubles by Grillo and Riebesell. After the second out of the inning, the Mules were down to their final strike before senior Jon Capra lined a 1-2 pitch into right field. Riebesell scored from second without a throw after the right fielder misplayed the single. 

Grillo singled up the middle with one out in the 11th and went to second on Riebesell's bloop to right. Avallone jumped on the first pitch, hitting one hard between the first and second basemen, and Grillo scored standing up ahead of the throw home.

Sophomore Jake Lebovitch made the run stand up by pitching a scoreless 11th. The Garnet (16-7, 4-3) put two runners on with two outs, but Lebovitch struck out the final hitter on three pitches.

Lebovitch (pictured above) earned his first career win with 4 1/3 innings of relief. After allowing a run in the eighth, he retired all six batters he faced in the ninth and 10th.

Muhlenberg trailed 2-0 through three but scored in each of the three middle innings, taking leads of 4-2 and 5-4, only to have Swarthmore come back and tie in its half of the inning both times.

Junior John Serruto and sophomore Cameron Miller each had a pair of hits at the top of the order.