ALLENTOWN, Pa. - The Swarthmore College softball team (9-5, 0-2) got off to promising starts in each end of its doubleheader with Muhlenberg, but the Mules rallied each time to sweep the Centennial Conference-opening doubleheader on Tuesday afternoon. Muhlenberg won game one 9-2 and game two 9-3.

Senior Kate Smayda finished the doubleheader with three hits, including two in the second game. Senior Danielle Seltzer added two hits in the second game. Senior Nicole Aaron clubbed a double in the first game. With her two hits, Seltzer surpassed 100 hits for her career.

The Garnet jumped out to 1-0 first-inning leads in each game, only to see the Mules' bats come to life in the later innings. Kelly Kline finished game two with a home run and three RBI, while the Mules pounded out four extra-base hits to take game one.

In the first game, Swarthmore took the early lead on the Mules. Smayda reached first after being hit by a pitch and then reached third following a double from Aaron. An RBI groundout from Seltzer brought Smayda home and gave Swat the early 1-0 lead.

Behind the strong pitching of Sarina Lowe, the Garnet remained in front until the bottom of the fourth inning. In the fourth, Muhlenberg used a pair of hits and a Swat error to pull ahead 2-1. With the Garnet offense struggling to get going after its earlier success, the Mules broke the game wide open with three runs in the fifth inning and four in the sixth.

In the second game, Swarthmore again went ahead 1-0, and just like last time it was Seltzer driving in Smayda. Seltzer singled up the middle to plate Smayda, making it 1-0 Garnet.

Swarthmore's  early lead in the second game was short-lived, as the Mules went ahead 2-1 in the bottom of the inning following a two-run homer from Kline. Three singles in the third inning plated three more Mules runs to make it 5-1. While Swat was able to pound out six more hits in the game, but Mules kept pulling ahead, tacking four more runs to round out the 9-3 win.

Junior Melissa O'Connor  (6-2) took the loss in the second game, pitching three innings. Freshman Christen Boas Hayes tossed three innings in relief.

Swarthmore returns home to face Cairn in non-conference action on Thursday. Play begins at 3:00 p.m.