ALLENTOWN, Pa. - The Swarthmore College baseball team captured its fifth series sweep of the season with a 18-9 win at Muhlenberg College on Friday afternoon. The Garnet head into the final weekend of the regular season with a doubleheader versus Franklin & Marshall to decide the top seed in the Centennial Championship Tournament. 

Austin Burgess and Luke Mutz extended their on-base streaks early with a pair of hits in the first inning. Burgess has reached base in 26 straight-contests with a 11-game hit streak, while Mutz extended his streak to 22 games.

Michael Sepe drove in five runs with two homers and a double to lead the Garnet offense. Mutz also had a tremendous day at the dish with four hits, two extra base hits, three RBI and three runs scored.

Matteo Sollecito opened the game with four strong innings in a winning effort. Sollecito allowed one earned run, while striking out nine batters. 

HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Garnet batted around to post a seven spot in the first inning. Mutz doubled in the opening run, while Burgess singled up the middle and stole second to put two runners in scoring position. Matthew Silvestre then doubled in a pair of runs, while Sepe launched a two-run shot to clear the bases. Later in the inning, Swarthmore placed a couple more runs on a throwing error by the pitcher, 7-0.

- Mutz tripled to open the second inning and then came home to score on a Burgess sacrifice fly. Paul Cooke then mashed a solo shot for his sixth homer of the season to tie Burgess for the team lead, 9-0.

- Swarthmore added three runs in the third inning. Max Roffwarg, Mutz and Cooke all drove home runs with RBI singles. The Garnet then added three more in the fourth on Sepe's second homer of the game and a two-run single by Mutz, 15-0.

- Muhlenberg added a run in the fourth inning. The Garnet then scored on a wild pitch in the fifth, before the Muhles added five runs in the bottom half, 16-6.

- Sepe plated a run on a sacrifice flyout in the sixth and then added another RBI with a double in the eighth, 18-9.



GARNET OFFENSIVE LEADERS
Sepe: 3-for-5, 3 RBI, 2 HR
Cooke: 2-for-5, 2 RBI, HR
Mutz: 4-for-6, 3 RBI, 3 R, 2B, 3B

GARNET PITCHING LEADERS
Sollecito (W, 3-1), 4.0 IP, 1 R, 9 SO, 5 H

UP NEXT
The Garnet (20-16, 13-3) close out the regular season with a doubleheader versus Franklin & Marshall College to decide the top seed in the Centennial Conference on Saturday.