Late-game dramatics gave the Muhlenberg softball team a split with Gettysburg in its Centennial Conference-opening doubleheader.

The Mules fell 8-2 in the opener before coming back to take the nightcap 6-5 on a two-out walkoff single by sophomore Karissa Astrella in the bottom of the seventh.

Held to two runs through the first 11 innings by a Gettysburg team that was a unanimous pick to win the CC championship, Muhlenberg tied the second game in the bottom of the fifth and the bottom of the sixth before winning it.

Sophomore Amelia Shelley drew a one-out walk in the seventh and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by sophomore Paige Seitz. Astrella worked the count to 3-1, then fouled off two pitches before lining a single up the middle. Shelley slid into home well ahead of the throw from the outfield, setting off a celebration.

The Mules (7-13) trailed 1-0 before Astrella smoked an opposite-field double with one out in the fifth. Freshman Allyson Sweeney followed with a single to tie the score.

The Bullets (13-3) scored four times in the top of the sixth before the Mules responded with four runs of their own in the bottom of the inning. Following two walks, Seitz loaded the bases with a two-strike bunt that landed in between the catcher and pitcher and spun back, rolling dead just in front of home plate.

Sweeney's single and a misplay in left field brought in two runs to make it 5-3. Three batters later, senior Taylor Trifilois hit a slow roller up the middle to bring in Seitz and Sweeney (pictured above) with the tying runs.

Gettysburg put the potential go-ahead run on base in the top of the seventh, but Muhlenberg turned a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning.

In the opener, Gettysburg scored once in the first, three times in the second and padded its lead with four more runs in the seventh. Senior Amie DeFeo put the Mules on the board with an RBI single in the third inning, and freshman Kristina Qualben had a sacrifice fly in the sixth. Trifiolis went 2-for-3 with a run scored in the opener.

Muhlenberg was facing a Gettysburg team that entered the day leading the CC in hitting, ERA and fielding percentage.

DeFeo, Astrella and Sweeney went a combined 6-for-10 with a double, a run scored and three RBI in the second game. Sophomore Hanna Caiola saved two runs in the nightcap with a terrific running catch in left field.