The Muhlenberg baseball team opened up its season with a doubleheader sweep over Centenary

The Mules took the opening game, 6-3, and claimed a 10-7 extra-inning win in Game 2.

The top four batters in the lineup went a combined 11-for-16 with four stolen bases, four runs scored and four RBI in Game 1. Freshman Chris Grillo went 3-for-4 with a double, two stolen bases and three runs scored in his collegiate debut.

Sophomore Eric Reitmeyer went 3-for-4 and chipped in with an RBI while junior John Icaza was 3-of-4 with two RBI, two stolen bases and a run scored.

The game was tied 2-2 when Grillo (pictured above) led off the top of the fifth with a bunt single and stole second. He went to third on an infield hit by Reitmeyer and completed the "small ball" rally by scoring the go-ahead run on Icaza's infield hit.

A pinch-hit double by junior Nick Lucas brought in freshman Matt Riebesell to make it 4-2 in the sixth, and RBI singles by senior Andrew Rava and junior Thomas Yohe extended the lead to 6-2 in the seventh.

Southpaw Timmy Pilrun picked up the win, allowing two runs on six hits, while walking two batters and striking out eight in five innings. Junior Ryan Banks worked the final two innings to pick up the save.

In the nightcap, the Mules were tied with the Cyclones at 7-7 heading into the eighth inning before beginning the winning rally with two outs and nobody on. After consecutive hits by Reitmeyer and Icaza, Rava ripped a two-run double to left-center field. Junior Robbie Hopes followed through with an RBI single to put Muhlenberg ahead by three runs.

Senior Andrew Oakes pitched a scoreless bottom of the eighth to earn his first career save.

Rava went 2-for-5 with two doubles, four RBI and a run scored, while Grillo and Icaza had three hits apiece.

The Mules finished the afternoon with 34 combined hits.