Junior Nicole Washburn pitched another gem as the Muhlenberg softball team defeated Misericordia, 3-1, in the first of two games in Kissimmee, Fla. The Mules dropped the second game to Ferrum, 4-1, to wrap up their trip with a 4-6

Washburn had a 1.46 ERA and struck out 18 while walking just two in her four Florida starts.

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Washburn allowed just four singles – two of the infield variety – and struck out six batters in earning her third win of the season. The only run scored against her was unearned.

BASEBALL DONE IN BY BIG INNING The Muhlenberg baseball team hit three home runs, but was done in by an eight-run sixth inning, as DeSales won 14-5. Sophomore Joseph Carlo and senior James Petersen each hit his first career home run, and junior Pete Oris added a solo homer and an RBI single for the Mules (2-4). Ahead 6-4, No. 19 DeSales (3-3) sent 12 men to the plate in the sixth, scoring eight of them with two outs. Junior Brandon Manekin pitched the final three innings without allowing a baserunner. Click here for line score.

Shut out in each of its previous two games, Muhlenberg needed only three batters to push a run across against the Cougars (3-5). Junior Hilary Marinchak drew a walk to lead off the bottom of the first and stole second. Freshman Jenna Forte followed with her fifth double of the young season.

The Mules got runners to third base the next two innings, but did not plate another run until the fourth. This time Marinchak was on the other end, knocking in senior Lindsay Ruhling, who had singled with two out, with a ground single up the middle.

Muhlenberg manufactured an insurance run in the sixth. Ruhling led off by legging out a grounder to deep short, and junior Katie Olson beat out a bunt. Marinchak sacrificed the runners over, and sophomore pinch-hitter Jennifer Rosenthal brought in Ruhling with a line-drive sacrifice fly to center.

Rosenthal gave the Mules the early lead against Ferrum with a two-out RBI single in the second, but the Hornets scored three in the third.

Ruhling went 3-for-5 in the two games, while Olson also had three hits.

Forte led Muhlenberg with a .667 batting average and seven RBI in the Sunshine State.

Click here for line scores.