WOMEN’S LACROSSE
A slow start proved to be too much to overcome for the Mules, whose playoff chances were damaged with an 8-6 loss at Swarthmore.

The Garnet (12-3, 4-3) scored the first six goals of the game and hung on as Muhlenberg (8-5, 3-5) held them to two over the final 39 minutes. The Mules closed to within two, 7-5, with 12:49 to play, but Swarthmore scored four minutes later. Muhlenberg’s final goal came with 17 seconds remaining.

Senior Courtney Tapkas scored two goals, the 200th and 201st of her career. She is the seventh player in Centennial Conference history to reach the double-century mark.

Muhlenberg can tie for fifth place in the CC with a win against McDaniel in its lone remaining league game and help from other teams. The final playoff spot would then be determined by tiebreakers.

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MEN’S GOLF
Muhlenberg finished 10th at Widener’s Tom Ruggieri Invitational. Sophomore Garrett Carpenter led the Mules for the second tournament in a row, shooting an 80.

Click here for Muhlenberg box score.
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The NCAA statistics confirm what is apparent from looking at the scores: The Muhlenberg baseball team has one of the top offenses in Division III.

Through games of April 9, the Mules ranked in the top 20 in the country in

Oris has five home runs this season, including this one against Drew.

four offensive categories. They were fifth in runs per game (10.0), sixth in team batting average (.368), 10th in triples per game (0.77) and 15th in team slugging percentage (.504).

Individually, junior Pete Oris was leading Division III with an .878 slugging percentage. He also ranked sixth in batting average (.500) and RBI per game (1.59).

The formidable Muhlenberg offense will be tested by two of the top pitching staffs in Division III in its next two home Centennial Conference doubleheaders. Franklin & Marshall (April 22) is 21st in the country in staff ERA (3.04), and Johns Hopkins (April 29) is 17th.

The Mules also ranked in the top 20 in one defensive category: They were 17th with 1.14 double plays per game.