Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

ALLENTOWN, Pa.  – Muhlenberg College held Gettysburg College to one run in a pair of victories to open the Centennial Conference softball season on Saturday.
 
Muhlenberg (10-2, 2-0 CC) scored in the bottom of the seventh to get by Gettysburg (8-3, 0-2 CC) 1-0 in the opening game. In game two, senior Kelly Kline blasted a grand slam in the second inning to propel the Mules to a 6-1 win.
 
In the opener, the hosts threatened in the bottom of the first inning with a walk and a pair of hits, but Kline was thrown out by center fielder Melissa Tighe (Little Falls, N.J./Mt. St. Dominic Academy) at the plate trying to score from second base.
 
The game remained scoreless as Gettysburg sophomore Michelle Fox (Newton, N.J./Blair Academy) dueled with Muhlenberg's Kelsey Jones. Fox allowed only two more hits over the next five innings, while Jones stranded Bullet runners on the base paths in each of the last six innings.
 
The visitors put two runners in scoring position in the top of the seventh, but in both instances the runner was forced out before reaching third base.
 
Muhlenberg put the game to bed quickly in the bottom of the seventh. After a pinch-hit lead-off single by Amie DeFeo, the ensuing sacrifice attempt led to a throwing error and the game-winning run.
 
Fox fell to 5-1 after allowing five hits and three walks, while striking out three. Tighe and senior Maggie Maguire (Madison, Conn./Daniel Hand) each produced a pair of hits for the Bullets.
 
Gettysburg looked to capitalize early in the nightcap as Tighe and freshman Jamie Abell (Glenn Dale, Md./Elizabeth Seton) logged base hits to start the game. After a pop-up to the infield, both lead runners were forced out on fielder's choices.
 
One swing of the bat sealed the game for Muhlenberg. With a run already crossing the plate, Kline blasted her fifth homer of the spring and the 26th of her career to right field to push the hosts out in front 5-0.
 
Gettysburg got a run back in the top half of the sixth as sophomore Steph Zengel (High Bridge, N.J./North Hunterdon) scored on a sacrifice fly by senior Abby Ferguson (Harrisburg, Pa./Trinity). The Mules answered in the home half to set the final score.
 
Tighe picked up three more hits, including her second triple of the day, in the nightcap, while Zengel finished 2-for-3.
 
Gettysburg travels to York (Pa.) College for a non-conference doubleheader on Monday, March 24, at 3 p.m.