The Muhlenberg softball team split its next-to-last doubleheader of the regular season, defeating Ursinus 3-2 in eight innings in the opener before dropping the nightcap, 3-1.

The split put the Mules (17-19, 8-6) into a three-way tie for third place in the Centennial Conference with Washington College, their opponent on Saturday, and Haverford. Muhlenberg can secure a spot in the four-team playoff field by sweeping Washington. If the doubleheader ends in a split, the playoff berths will come down to tiebreakers.

Both games of the Ursinus doubleheader were closely contested. The Bears (16-17, 4-10) took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning of the opener, and the Mules tied it in the bottom of the inning on a two-out, RBI triple by sophomore Raya Kunes.

Kunes (pictured above) also had a single in the fifth to set up a run that scored on a bases-loaded walk. That lead didn't last long either, as Ursinus scored in the top of the sixth to knot the game at 2-2. The Bears would have taken a lead later that inning had not sophomore right fielder Sabrina Reichelt thrown out a runner at home plate.

The score remained 2-2 through seven innings, sending the Mules to their fourth CC extra-inning game of the season.

After a scoreless top of the eighth, Muhlenberg loaded the bases with nobody out in the bottom of the inning on singles by freshmen Kaitlyn Buurman and Kaya Mahy sandwiched around a hit batter. The winning run came in on a misplayed ground ball to third base.

Freshman Justin Bergara earned the win with 2.2 innings of scoreless relief.

The Mules played from behind for the whole second game after Ursinus scored a run in the top of the first. They finally drew even on a two-out RBI single by senior Madison Palat in the bottom of the sixth.

The Bears took the lead right back with two runs in the top of the seventh. Muhlenberg put the tying runs on base in the bottom of the seventh, but the final two batters were retired.

Junior Sara Fallon had a pinch-hit single in each game of the doubleheader.