MYRTLE BEACH, S.C., March 13, 2018 – The Monroe College softball team won the front half of a doubleheader on its third day at the Ripken Experience on Tuesday. The Mustangs defeated USC Sumter, 7-2, before falling to Coastal Carolina University (CCU) club softball, 6-3. The Mustangs leave the day with a 4-6 overall record.
 
Game 1: Monroe 7, USC Sumter 2
Breanna Kuhner got things started on the right foot, opening the game with a leadoff triple. Brooke Boechler then knocked her in on a single to left for a quick lead. Chantel Winstead followed with a single to center to put runners on the corners, and Veronica Casanova knocked in Boechler with a sacrifice fly to right, putting the Mustangs up, 2-0, after one.
 
With two outs in the second, Kuhner doubled to keep the frame going. Boechler then singled to left, allowing Kuhner to score and make it a 3-0 game.
 
The Mustangs improved upon their lead with another rally in the sixth. Boechler continued a big day with a leadoff single, followed by another single for Winstead. Casanova walked to load the bases, and Kimberly Zapata took advantage with an RBI single to right for a four-run lead. Selena Aguirre then knocked in another run on a fielder's choice to make it a five-run game. After Brooke Kane singled to load the bases again, Abigail Cancilla brought in Zapata on a sacrifice fly to center, giving the Mustangs a 6-0 lead.
 
Breanna Kuhner made it a 7-0 game in the top of the sixth when she led off the inning with a solo homer to center.
 
The Fire Ants put the first three batters of the sixth on base before registering an out. Hailey Carter then brought in USC Sumter's first run on a groundout to short, and Jayla Cowell followed with a sacrifice fly to left, leaving the Fire Ants down five runs after six, but that was how it remained through the final out of the game.
 
Kane got the win, her first of the season, after allowing just two runs on four hits through the complete seven frames. Megan Phillips took the loss for the Fire Ants to fall to 3-3.
 
Kuhner nearly hit for the cycle in the Mustangs' victory on Tuesday, going 3-for-4 with a double, triple and her fifth home run of the season. She added three runs scored and an RBI. Boechler batted 3-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Winstead finished 2-for-4 with a run and a stolen base, while Zapata went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run.
 
Game 2: Coastal Carolina Club 6, Monroe 3
The Chanticleers opened the game by putting runners on second and third with one away. Later, with two down, Madison Lowe-Gardner hit a two-RBI single to center, putting Coastal Carolina up, 2-0.
 
CCU loaded the bases early in the fifth frame, allowing Lowe-Gardner to knock in another run with a single to left. Back-to-back RBI singles by Kali Johnson and Taylor Kennedy brought in another two runs to leave the Chanticleers up, 5-0.
 
Kuhner walked to open the bottom of the fifth, and then a double to left-center by Boechler got the Mustangs on the board. Monroe then loaded the bases with one away, allowing Aguirre to knock in Boechler with a sacrifice fly to left, getting Monroe back within three.
 
A two-out triple by CCU's Abbey Dyson kept the sixth inning alive for the Chanticleers. Brittany Morgan then singled her in from third to make it a 6-2 game.
 
The Mustangs tried to rally in the bottom of the seventh, starting with a walk by Boechler. A double play then left Monroe one out away from defeat, but Casanova managed to keep it going with a walk. Zapata then tripled to deep center, allowing Casanova to score and make it a three-run game, but that was all the Mustangs were able to get.
 
Brianna Casiano shouldered the loss to fall to 2-2 on the season. CCU's Dalys Rhyne got the win with a complete game.
 
Zapata went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a triple in Tuesday's finale. Boechler capped off a solid day by going 1-for-1 with a double, an RBI, a run and three walks. Kuhner hit 1-for-3 with a run scored.
 
Monroe continues its week down in Myrtle Beach on Wednesday, March 13, when they take on Genesee Community College. First pitch is set for 9 a.m.
 
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).