The Muhlenberg softball team snapped its seven-game losing streak and earned its first Centennial Conference win of the season with a 3-0 shutout of Dickinson in the first game of a twi-night doubleheader.

The Mules suffered another tough one-run defeat in the nightcap, falling 5-4 when the Red Devils scored three times in their last at-bat.

Junior Nicole Washburn pitched a five-hitter for her second shutout of the season in Game 1. Dickinson (10-14, 1-3) had only one serious scoring threat, placing runners on second and third with one out in the fourth, but Washburn fanned the next two hitters.

Washburn also helped Muhlenberg (8-14, 1-3) score all of its runs in the fourth. Freshman Michelle Consiglio drove in the first run with a single, and Washburn came to bat with two on and two outs. Her single was overrun by the rightfielder, allowing a second run to score. Junior Hilary Marinchak followed with an RBI single.

The Mules took advantage of a Devil miscue to take a 3-0 lead in the nightcap as well. After a dropped fly ball with two out in the second allowed one run to score, sophomore Jennifer Rosenthal slammed her first career home run.

Dickinson scored its first two runs in the bottom of the fifth. Muhlenberg scored an insurance run in the top of the sixth on Washburn’s RBI pinch-single, but the Red Devils scored three in the bottom of the inning, with the tying and winning runs coming in on an error. The Mules went down 1-2-3 in the seventh.

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It was the Mules’ ninth consecutive win in the series and

Freshman Ruth Morrongiello scored two goals, one when a huge gust of wind blew in her pass in front of the cage early in the second half.

eighth straight at home against the Owls (5-7, 0-3). It also left the team one win shy of the program record for wins in a season.

Senior Courtney Tapkas scored five goals, including two in the first 2:50 of the game to set the tone. It was the second time this season she notched five goals and her 33rd career hat trick.

Muhlenberg (7-3, 2-3) led 5-0 before Bryn Mawr scored its only goal of the first half at 15:57. It would also be their last one before the final six minutes of the game as the Mules’ defense kept heavy pressure on the Owls, including 10 caused turnovers. Bryn Mawr managed just six good clears, compared to 18 broken ones.

“We played really tough and aggressive defense,” said senior Steph Light, who picked up nine of the Mules’ season-high 36 ground balls. “We came on strong with the double team and that led to turnovers.”

Ahead 8-1 at halftime, Muhlenberg scored the first five goals of the second half. Senior Shannon Donohue scored her 100th career goal at 38:43, giving the Mules a 10-1 lead at the time. She is the sixth Mule to reach the century mark.

“It feels nice to score 100 goals,” said Donohue, who also had two caused turnovers that led directly to goals. “It’s a huge accomplishment, even though I’m more of an assists person. I really like to set up my teammates to score.”

Donohue did that as well, notching a game-high three assists to give her a season-best 21 on the season – the second most assists in a season in program history.

“This was a great win because it gets us back on our feet and gives us back some of our momentum,” said Light. “We need to continue to win Centennial Conference games.”

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