women’s lacrosse, softball bounce back

Mules Shut Out Geneva It’s amazing what a little pitching and defense can do. A few hours after a sloppy 11-2 loss to 18th-ranked Muskingum, the Muhlenberg softball team rebounded to shut out Geneva, 2-0. Freshman Alyssa Bruckner and junior Lara Kestenbaum combined on the four-hit shutout, with Bruckner working out of two big jams to earn her first career win. She struck out a batter with runners on second and third and one out in the second, then got two ground balls to escape a bases-loaded, nobody-out situation in the fourth. Kestenbaum retired the last five batters, fanning two, to earn the save. The Mules (2-4) scored both of their runs in the first inning on a two-run double by freshman Jess Kasza, who also hit a two-bagger in the Muskingum game. Click here for line scores.

The signs all around Disney Wide World of Sports say “Building Champions,” and if one characteristic of champions is overcoming adversity, the Muhlenberg women’s lacrosse

Freshman Allisyn Vachon makes one of her five saves.

team took a step in the right direction.

Two days after a disappointing 20-4 loss to Gettysburg, the Mules came back to knock off Gwynedd-Mercy, 18-6, in the last of their two games in Florida.

“We really changed it from the last game,” said junior co-captain Marguerite Farrell, who recorded four ground balls. “Today’s game we connected better all over the field.”

The defense in particular was well-connected, keeping the Griffins off the scoreboard for more than 23 minutes. Ahead only 5-3 with 9:52 left in the first half, Muhlenberg reeled off the next nine goals, including two in the final minute of the first half, to break the game open.

Three players – senior Taylor Armstrong, junior Ruth Morrongiello and freshman Rachael Goldstein – notched hat tricks, with Armstrong adding a pair of assists. Sophomore Amanda McGovern also scored five points, on two goals and three assists.
Click here for box score.