The Muhlenberg baseball team opened its 2017 season with a doubleheader sweep at Gallaudet, eking out a 3-2 win in the first game before exploding for a 10-4 victory in the nightcap.

Sophomore RJ Hennessey (pictured above) drew the Opening Day starting assignment and was equal to the task, retiring the side without allowing a hit in four of his six innings. He struck out three and did not walk a batter.

Trailing 2-1, the Mules scored the tying and lead runs in the top of the fifth. With two outs and runners on first and third, junior Eric Reitmeyer singled in a run and took a wide turn at first. The Bison tried to throw behind him but threw the ball away, allowing sophomore Chris Grillo to come home with the go-ahead run. Grillo also scored Muhlenberg's first run on a sacrifice fly by senior John Icaza after leading off the game with a single.

Senior Christopher Bunero pitched a hitless bottom of the seventh to earn the save.

After being held to four hits in the first game, the Mules went batty in the second game, scoring all 10 of their runs in the second through fourth innings. Grillo, junior Taylor Vazquez and sophomore Matt Riebesell each had two hits and drove in three runs, while Icaza and senior Robbie Hopes recorded two hits and score twice each. 

A two-run single by Vazquez and a two-run double by Grillo - both with two out - highlighted a five-run third. Riebesell put Muhlenberg in double digits with a two-run double in the fourth.

The offensive outburst made life easier for freshman Matthew D'Ambrosia in his collegiate debut. The big righty began his career with three scoreless innings - including a second inning in which he struck out the side - before allowing a pair of runs in the fourth.

Fellow freshman Ryan Kaverick relieved and pitched the final three innings without allowing an earned run to pick up the save.