NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., March 24, 2018 – The Monroe College softball team doubled up SUNY Orange twice on Saturday, sweeping a doubleheader with a 6-3 victory in Game 1 and a 10-5 decision in the finale at Flowers Park. The Mustangs improve to 10-7 on the season with the wins, while the Colts drop to 0-4.
 
Game 1: Monroe 6, SUNY Orange 3
As has become the norm for the Mustangs, Breanna Kuhner led off the bottom of the first with a leadoff, inside-the-park home run to center, giving Monroe a quick 1-0 lead. Chantel Winstead later doubled with one away, and moved to third on a groundout. Kimberly Zapata then knocked her in with an infield single to second to double the lead. With bases loaded and two away, Zapata scored on a wild pitch, leaving Monroe up, 3-0, after one.
 
A one-out double by Amanda Hulse set up Nicole Beach for an RBI single for Orange, cutting the deficit to two runs in the second inning.
 
In the bottom of the third, Zapata beat out a single to short to lead off the inning. She later moved up to second on a wild pitch, and then advanced to third on a bloop-single to center by Selena Aguirre. A wild pitch then brought Zapata in to score and moved Aguirre to second. Brooke Kane hit a hard line drive to left that was dropped by the left fielder, allowing Aguirre to score and make it a 5-1 game.
 
In the sixth, Kuhner struck out with one away, but a passed ball allowed her to reach first. A hard line drive into right by Winstead then put runners on first and third. A wild pitch allowed Kuhner to score from third, giving the Mustangs a 6-1 advantage.
 
Orange County was able to put together a rally and tally two runs in the seventh, but the Colts were unable to complete a comeback, giving Monroe a 6-3 victory.
 
Brooke Kane picked up the victory to improve to 5-4 on the season. She tossed the complete seven innings, allowing just one earned run on three hits with four strikeouts. Orange starter Karlee Weeden shouldered the loss after six frames and three earned runs.
 
Kuhner batted 2-for-4 with her eighth home run of the season, as well as two runs and an RBI. Zapata hit 2-for-3 with two runs and an RBI. Aguirre went 2-for-4 with a run scored, while Winstead also hit 2-for-4 with a run and a double.
 
Game 2: Monroe 10, SUNY Orange 5
Isabella Schaetzle walked after a long one-out at bat and was able to take second on a steal attempt after the throw was dropped. She then managed to score on a wild pitch to give the Colts a quick 1-0 lead.
 
Kuhner reached on an error by the second baseman to lead off the bottom of the first. Boechler followed with a single up the middle. With one down, Veronica Casanova beat out a slow roller to second to load the bases. Zapata then dropped a double into left-center, scoring Kuhner and Boechler to put the Mustangs ahead, 2-1. Aguirre then doubled to left, plating Casanova and Zapata to leave the Mustangs up, 4-1, after one.
 
Brandi McNamara hit a one-out triple for Orange, and then scored on a sacrifice fly by Schaetzle, cutting the deficit to 4-2 in the top of the third.
 
Zapata led off the third with an inside-the-park home run down the right-field line to make it a 5-2 game.
 
Orange put runners on first and second with one away in the fourth. Cassidy Smith then doubled down the left-field line, bringing in two runs to make it a 5-4 ballgame.
 
Kuhner led off the home half of the fourth with a walk, followed by an infield single for Boechler. Winstead then dropped a single into short-center, scoring Kuhner to make it 6-4. Casanova then ripped a single through the left side to load the bases. Zapata followed with a single into right, plating two more runs for the Mustangs. Casanova later scored on a wild pitch, and then Brianna Casiano hit an RBI single to left-center, leaving the Mustangs up, 10-4, after four.
 
With two outs in the top of the fifth, Stephanie Manley hit an inside-the-park home run, but that was the last run the Colts scored in the game, giving Monroe a 10-5 win.
 
Casiano improved to 4-2 after the complete-game victory in Game 2. She allowed five runs on six hits with six strikeouts. Victoria Crozier took the loss for Orange after allowing nine earned runs in three-plus frames.
 
Zapata had a huge game in Saturday's finale, going 4-for-4 with a home run, double, five RBIs and three runs scored. Boechler hit 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Casanova went 2-for-4 with two runs. Kuhner scored twice in a 1-for-3 effort.
 
The Mustangs get back to work tomorrow, March 25, when they host Suffolk County Community College at Flowers Park. First pitch of Sunday's doubleheader is set for 2 p.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).