MYRTLE BEACH, S.C., March 11, 2018 – The Monroe College softball team dropped a pair of close matchups in the Mustangs' first day at the Ripken Experience in Myrtle Beach, S.C. on Sunday. The Mustangs fell to Columbia-Greene Community College, 3-2, then dropped an 8-5 decision in extra innings to John Wood Community College. The Mustangs fall to 2-4 on the season with the losses.
 
Game 1: Columbia-Greene 3, Monroe 2
Monroe starter Brooke Kane worked her way out of trouble in each of the first two innings. In the bottom of the first, Columbia-Greene put the first two batters on before recording an out. Kane then struck out the next two hitters and got the fifth to fly out to left to end the inning without any damage.
 
In the bottom of the second, the Twins loaded the bases without an out. Kane once again struck out the next two batters, and got the final out on a ground out, keeping the game scoreless after two.
 
Breanna Kuhner broke the tie in the top of the fourth, leading off the inning with an inside-the-park home run to left, putting the Mustangs ahead, 1-0.
 
In the bottom of the fourth, Columbia-Greene pitcher Rachel Nielsen led off the frame with a triple to right. She was then knocked in on a single by Jaclyn Gehring, tying the game at 1-1.
 
The game remained tied until the bottom of the sixth. Gehring singled with one away, and then Jenna Rippel was hit by a pitch to put two on for the Twins. Sydney Spohler then ripped a triple to left, bringing both runners in to score and put the Twins ahead, 3-1, heading to the seventh.
 
Kimberly Zapata got a rally started with a leadoff single for the Mustangs in the top of the seventh. Brianna Martinez then singled through the right side with one away, followed by a walk by Kuhner to load the bases. Chantel Winstead brought Zapata in on a groundout to third, getting the Mustangs within a run with two outs. The next batter was unable to reach base, ending the rally for the Mustangs and giving the Twins the win.
 
Kane shouldered the loss despite a strong effort in Sunday's opener. She falls to 0-1 after allowing just three runs in six frames while also striking out eight batters. Nielsen got the win for the Twins to improve to 1-0.
 
Kuhner batted 3-for-3 in the game with her third home run of the season. Winstead picked up an RBI in a 0-for-2 game. Selena Aguirre and Zapata each went 1-for-3, while Zapata scored a run.
 
Baylee Cox hit 2-for-4 with a triple and two RBIs to lead the Twins. Nielsen helped herself with a 2-for-3 outing, including a double, a triple and a run scored. Gehring batted 3-for-3 with an RBI and a run.
 
Game 2: John Wood 8, Monroe 5 (8 innings)
The Mustangs got things started quickly in Sunday's finale. Kuhner led off the bottom of the first with a single to right, then a single by Brooke Boechler put runners on the corners. With one away, Veronica Casanova hit a long single to right, scoring both runners to give Monroe a 2-0 advantage. With two outs, Kane singled to center, bringing Zapata in to score from second and leave Monroe up, 3-0, after one.
 
Like she did earlier in the day, Kuhner led off the second with an inside-the-park home run to left, making it a 4-0 game in the second.
 
John Wood got on the board in the top of the third after putting a rally together with two outs. Amber Garner singled, and then Madison Orr doubled her in, getting the Blazers back within three.
 
The Blazers chipped away at the deficit again in the top of the fifth, once again with a two-out rally. Daiyla McWilliams tripled to deep center, and then Garner singled to bring her in from third and make it a 4-2 game.
 
The Blazers were then able to take the lead in the bottom of the sixth. A trio of fielding errors led to three runs scoring for John Wood, giving them a 5-4 lead heading into the seventh.
 
Chantel Winstead doubled to lead off the seventh, and then Martinez went in to pinch run. She later advanced to third on a ground out by Zapata, leaving a runner on third with two away. Aguirre then doubled to deep center, scoring Martinez to tie the game and send it to extra innings.
 
In the top of the eighth, the Blazers put runners on the corners after an error on a sacrifice bunt attempt. Emma Taylor then doubled to left, bringing in both runs to put the Blazers up by two. Taylor then scored on an error, leaving John Wood up, 8-5, which proved to be the final score.
 
Kane dropped to 0-2 on the season with the loss in Game 2, but had another solid game in the circle. She tossed all eight innings, allowing just two earned runs. Torre Koontz got the win for the Blazers after going the complete eight frames.
 
Kuhner had another big game, going 3-for-5 with her fourth home run, two runs and an RBI. Boechler hit 3-for-5 with a triple and a run scored. Zapata finished 3-for-4 with a run. Kane batted 2-for-3, while Casanova hit 1-for-4 with two RBIs.
 
John Wood was led by Garner, who hit 3-for-3 with an RBI and a run. Taylor batted 1-for-4 with two RBIs and a run.
 
The Mustangs will look to bounce back tomorrow, March 12, when they take on John Wood once again at 3 p.m., followed by a 5 p.m. matchup against Camden County College.
 
ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE COLLEGE
The athletic program at Monroe College encompasses a total of 26 teams competing across nine sports. There are 18 varsity and junior varsity programs, as well as club men's rugby, and the newly added club women's rugby team, competing on the New Rochelle campus as the Monroe Mustangs (NJCAA Division I). The Monroe Express, based out of the Bronx campus, has six teams competing at the NJCAA Division III level as of the fall of 2017.
 
For more information about the Monroe Mustangs, please visit us at www.MonroeCollegeMustangs.com or follow us on social media: Facebook (Monroe College Athletics), Twitter (@Monroe_Mustangs) and Instagram (@monroemustangs).