The Muhlenberg softball team got off to a fast start and saw one of its underclassmen set a pair of career highs in the opening game of its Centennial Conference doubleheader at Swarthmore.  

Sophomore Hanna Caiola went 3-for-4 and drove in three runs as the Mules took the split, claiming a 9-3 win in Game 1 before falling in the nightcap, 3-2.

The Mules (8-14, 2-2) took the lead with a five-run second inning in Game 1. With two on and one out, freshman Kristina Qualben scored on a passed ball to put Muhlenberg on the board. Caiola followed through with an RBI single to centerfield.

Three batters later, senior Amie DeFeo reached on an error to score Caiola from third to make it 3-0. The next batter, senior Taylor Trifiolis, capped off the five-run inning with a two-run single.

Muhlenberg would add to its lead with two runs in the third. Caiola picked up an RBI single and another run would score on an error.

The Garnet (8-12, 1-1) got a run back in the fifth before Muhlenberg scored one on an error in the sixth. The Garnet scored two more runs in the bottom of the frame before the Mules put on the finishing touches in the seventh as Caiola ripped an RBI double to left-centerfield.

DeFeo, Trifiolis and freshman Allyson Sweeney were a combined 6-for-12 with five runs scored, two RBI and a stolen base in the opener.

In the second game, the Mules scored a run in the first on an RBI single by sophomore Amelia Shelley and one more in the third on a bases-loaded walk to senior Nicole Iannarone.

Swarthmore scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth. Muhlenberg had a chance to tie the game with a runner on second in the bottom of the seventh, but the game ended on a groundout.

Caiola (pictured above) drew three walks in the second game and reached base in six of eight plate appearances in the twinbill.