COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. – The Ursinus softball team swept Muhlenberg in Centennial Conference doubleheader action on Tuesday afternoon at the Snell Softball Field. The Bears earned a run-rule 10-2 victory in six innings for game one before edging the Mules 4-2 in game two.
 
 
With the win, the Bears improved to 20-9 overall behind their fifth-straight win and to 5-2 in Centennial Conference action. Meanwhile, the Mules fell to 12-14 overall and 3-5 in conference action.
 
 
 
GAME 1: Ursinus 10, Muhlenberg 2 (6 innings)
The Bears made an early statement by scoring four runs off four hits in the first inning. A walk and two singles loaded the bases with one out before senior Amanda Panati rocketed a ball off the third baseman's glove to score the first run. Two batters later, first-year Kayla Carr roped a single to right field and scored two more runs to make it 3-0. Carr then snuck behind the Mules pitcher to second which allowed junior Sara Sullivan to steal home, capping the inning. Muhlenberg got a run back in the top of the third inning, but the Bears countered in the bottom half when Carr lofted a fly ball to score Panati on third to make it 5-1. Ursinus added two more runs to their lead in the bottom of the fourth to take a 7-1 lead. Junior Madison Wilson led the inning off with a triple and came around to score on a groundout by sophomore Stephanie Wichman. A pair of singles kept the inning alive for the Bears and Carr ripped a single that ricocheted off the shortstop's glove to extend the Bears advantage. Muhlenberg rallied with two outs to cut the deficit down to 7-2 following a bases loaded walk, but Ursinus countered once again in the bottom half. Sophomore Samantha Mallen singled home junior Sarah DiLello, who opened the frame with a triple, to make it an 8-2 game. The Bears closed the game out one inning later with a pair of runs to bring the score to 10-2. Panati tripled to start the inning and Sullivan brought her in with a sacrifice fly. A double and single put runners on first and third which allowed DiLello to ground into a fielder's choice to score the 10th run.
 

GAME 2: Ursinus 4, Muhlenberg 2
Pitching ruled the first part of the game as only one batter advanced to third between the teams in the first three and a half innings. The Bears broke the scoreless tie with two runs in the bottom of the fourth with both being scored on two outs. Sullivan tripled to center to open the rally and Carr lifted a single to right field for the first run. A single from senior Jordan Moore followed by a bobbled toss to third then loaded the bases for Ursinus. Mallen took advantage of the error by poking a single up the middle to score Carr for the second run. Muhlenberg tied things up with a pair of runs in the top of the sixth after the first three runners reached. A single followed by an errant throw to first on a bunt attempt scored the first run before a wild pitch brought in the tying run. However, first-year pitcher Riley Coneeny stranded a runner on third with no outs by recording the next three outs. Moore and DiLello singled to open the bottom of the sixth and advanced to second and third with no outs. Mallen brought in Moore with a fly ball to right field and Wilson followed with a single through the right side to score DiLello and make it a 4-2 game. Coneeny worked around a two-out walk in the seventh to close out the game.
 
 
Carr powered the Bears offense with five RBI's between the two games while going a combined 4-of-6 from the plate. Sullivan with a combined 4-of-5 in the two game and Moore went 4-of-6 as each posted two hits in both contests. Panati went 3-of-4 with one RBI and scored four runs in game one while Mallen drove in three runs between the two games and stole a base in game two. First-year Christa Andrusiewicz picked up her ninth win of the season after allowing seven hits and two earned runs with one strikeout plus three walks during her six innings in game one. Coneeny earned the win in game two after allowing two unearned runs on two hits with one strikeout and a walk during the final three innings of the game. Wichman started game two and tossed four shutout innings while allowing three hits plus striking out four.
 
 
The Bears return to action on Tuesday, April 18th as they will host Swarthmore for a Centennial Conference doubleheader starting at 3:00 p.m.