The Muhlenberg baseball team made history in its 24-7 home win against Penn State Berks.

The Mules (5-9) drew 25 walks, not only shattering the school record of 16 set way back in 1968, but also breaking the Division III mark of 24 set by Washington University against Principia in 1997. Only three other NCAA teams have drawn 25 walks in a game, all from Division I: William & Mary in 2000, Mercer in 1985 and Miami (Fla.) in 1982.

Fifteen different players contributed to the record by drawing bases on balls. The first five batters of the game walked, and eight of 12 batters took a free pass in the first inning, when Muhlenberg scored six runs on just one hit. Six more batters walked in the second, helping the Mules to another six-run frame.

Record-setting walk No. 25 was drawn by freshman Justin Hilal leading off the bottom of the eighth.

The 24 runs were the most scored by Muhlenberg since a 29-0 win against Baptist Bible in 2011. The last time the Mules scored at least 20 runs in a game was in a 23-6 win vs. Dickinson in 2013. 

Muhlenberg did hit its way to some of the runs. Sophomore Thomas Pranzo belted his first career home run in the seventh. Sophomore Mason Mehling was 3-for-4 with 4 RBI on a one-run single in the first, a two-run single in the sixth and, yes, a bases-loaded walk.

Sophomore Evan Virno drove in three runs, hitting sacrifice flies in both the first and second innings from the seventh spot in the order. Sophomore Shreyas Sekhar also knocked in three runs, hitting back-to-back run-scoring doubles in the sixth and seventh for his first two career hits.

Sophomore Jacob Meirowitz came off the bench to reach base in all four of his plate appearances, driving in two runs with two hits, including a double.

Freshman Frank Kern (pictured above) was the beneficiary of the offensive outburst, earning his first career win in his first career start. He allowed only three hits and a run in four innings.