The Muhlenberg softball team scored a run in its final at-bat to defeat Washington College, 5-4, in the first round of the Centennial Conference playoffs.

The Mules (21-18) advance to face top-seeded Swarthmore on Thursday, with both teams moving on to the remainder of the double-elimination tournament this weekend at Swarthmore.

Muhlenberg took an early 2-0 lead, then had to rally from a two-run deficit to win the single-elimination 4-5 game for the second straight year.

With one out in the bottom of the sixth, freshman Abigail Kim hit a long double to deep center field. One out later, junior Scooter Hulsen doubled into the gap in right-center to bring home what proved to be the winning run.

Senior Justine Bergara retired the side in order in the top of the seventh, striking out the final hitter, to seal the win. Bergara came on in relief in the second and tossed the remaining 5 2/3 innings, allowing only one run on three hits while striking out four.

Hulsen (pictured above) and senior Kaitlyn Buurman led off the bottom of the first with singles and both scored, Hulsen on a groundout and Buurman on a single by sophomore Skyla Campisi.

The Shorewomen (12-25) responded with three in the next half-inning to take the lead and extended their margin to 4-2 with a run in the third.

The Mules took advantage of Washington errors to score single runs in the third and fourth to tie the score.

Kim, who came into the game with one hit all season, went 2-for-2 with a line-drive single to center and her sixth-inning double. Hulsen, Buurman, and Campisi also recorded a pair of hits apiece.