The Muhlenberg baseball team had one of its best offensive days of the season, but Haverford fired the last two salvos and won, 14-12, to gain a split of the teams’ Centennial Conference series.

The Fords (10-4, 1-1) hit solo home runs in the bottom of the seventh and bottom of the eighth to break a 12-12 tie and negate the Mules’ 18-hit attack.

Muhlenberg (4-10, 1-1) trailed 6-3 after three innings before erupting for seven runs in the fourth. A walk and five straight singles to open the frame – including a two-run hit by freshman Eric Pomroy – brought in the first four runs. Junior Joe Carlo drove in two more with a triple, and senior Matthew Block capped the rally with a two-out RBI single.

Haverford responded with six runs in the bottom of the inning to go back ahead, 12-10. The Mules tied the score with two in the fifth on a passed ball and RBI hit by senior Mike Hart.

Muhlenberg put three runners on base in the eighth and had a two-out double in the ninth, but could not score any more runs.

Senior Ryan Sassaman reached base in all six plate appearances, going 4-for-4 and scoring four runs. Hart also had four hits, and Pomroy and Carlo drove in three apiece.

Click here for line score.

With their 16-5 win over Haverford, the Mules earned their first Centennial Conference win of the season.

Scarrone scored two goals for her fifth multiple-goal game of the season.

“It’s such a great relief,” said sophomore Ruth Morrongiello. Classmate Sara Hiller concurred and added, “We needed to come out and show the conference what we’re all about, and we did it in this game.”

Hiller opened up scoring with a goal 3:25 into the contest. It was the first of her game-high tying four goals on the day, as well as the first of the Mules’ eight in a row to start the game.

After the Fords netted their only goal of the half with 1:33 left before the intermission, Hiller and freshman Amanda McGovern combined to reel in four more for the Mules. McGovern finished the game with a career-high six points on four goals and two assists.

Haverford outscored Muhlenberg 4-1 in the first part of the second half, but the Mules netted three in a row – including one by freshman Danielle Scarrone on a feed from McGovern at the final buzzer – to close out the game.

Although Hiller and McGovern combined for half of the Mules’ 16 goals, six other players were able to get into the scoring action.

“We’ve all been connecting with each other really well,” said Morrongiello, who scored twice. “We were also really patient on offense, which was a key to this win.”

On the defensive end, senior Kelli Sakonchick picked up four ground balls and caused four turnovers, and junior midfielder Taylor Armstrong added another four ground balls.

This win, combined with their recent triumph over non-conference opponent Kean, has the Mules feeling pretty confident heading into the rest of the CC season.

“We’ve changed our focus from our two losses,” Morrongiello said. “We’re all pumping each other up before the game in warmups, and we’re learning from our mistakes. We’re ready to take on the rest of the conference.”

Click here for box score.