North East, P.A. – The Monroe College softball team saw its 2016 season come to a conclusion over the weekend, when they were eliminated from the Region XV tournament with losses to Mercyhurst North East and to SUNY Orange.  The Mustangs finished the year with a 9-19 record.
 
The opening game for Monroe was an 11-8 loss to Mercyhurst North East.  Unlike the teams' last three matches, during which the Saints dominated from start to finish, the Mustangs jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the second inning.
 
Tara Sasso brought home the first run with a bases-loaded walk.  Two batters later, another base on balls to Taylor White brought the score to 2-0.  Leidaly Garcia reached on an error by the pitcher, driving in the third run of the inning.  Sasso scored on another fielding miscue, and Gabrielle Placencia had the first hit, an RBI single that scored Garcia.
 
Mercyhurst North East responded with four runs in their half of the inning to make the score 5-4 for Monroe, but the Mustangs pushed back and plated two more runners in the fourth, bringing the score to 7-4.
 
With two outs, Garcia singled up the middle.  Cassidy Wootten followed with a two-run homer.  It was Wootten's team-leading fourth homer of the season, which helped to secure her batting average above the .400 mark for the season (she finished at .402).  The Saints came back and won the game at 11-8.
 
Game two of the day saw Monroe fall to the Colts, 5-4.  Once again, the Mustangs took an early lead, this time a 3-0 advantage in the first inning.  Placencia drove in a pair with an RBI double, and Yalitza Rodriguez brought in the third runner with a single.  The Mustangs added another run in the third on a Maranda Diaz double, but fell 5-4 in the end.
 
The Monroe College softball team finished the 2016 season with a 9-19 overall mark. They boasted a 5-4 overall record in games played at City Park.