NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., March 25, 2018 – The Monroe College softball team picked up a pair of victories over Suffolk County Community College at Flowers Park on Sunday in two completely different ways. The Mustangs picked up a run-rule victory after five innings in Game 1, coming out on top, 17-5. Monroe and Suffolk then went back-and-forth in Game 2, but the Mustangs came out on top thanks to Veronica Casanova's walkoff two-run homer in the bottom of the seventh for a 10-9 win. Monroe improves to 12-7 on the year with another two wins, while Suffolk drops to 2-4.
 
Game 1: Monroe 17, Suffolk 5 (5 innings)
Things got off to a rocky start for the Mustangs, as an error, a single and a walk loaded the bases for the Sharks. Meagan McClinchey then hit a triple to deep left, scoring all three runners to give Suffolk a quick 3-0 lead.
 
The Mustangs quickly rebounded, starting with a one-out two-run homer by Chantel Winstead. Kimberly Zapata and Veronica Casanova hit back-to-back doubles, but Zapata was held at third, putting two runners in scoring position. Selena Aguirre then hit a sacrifice fly to bring in Zapata and tie the game. After Brooke Kane walked, Brianna Casiano tripled to deep center, scoring two more runs to give Monroe a 5-3 lead.
 
Suffolk loaded the bases again in the second, allowing Macy Kane to hit a sacrifice fly to left and bring in the Sharks' fourth run. A double steal then brought in the tying run.
 
The Mustangs loaded the bases with three straight walks in the second. Casanova then doubled to right, bringing in two runs to make it a 7-5 game. An error during Brooke Kane's at bat then brought in two more runs, putting the Mustangs up, 9-5.
 
In the third, Kortney Semper led off with a walk. Breanna Kuhner, Brooke Boechler and Winstead then hit three straight singles, bringing in a run and loading the bases. Zapata then hit the fourth single in a row for the Mustangs, plating Kuhner and Boechler to push the lead to 12-5. Casanova brought in Winstead with a groundout to third, and then Aguirre brought in one more run on a sacrifice fly to give the Mustangs a 14-5 lead after three.
 
Casiano led off the fourth with a single to center, and Kuhner later hit a one-out single to put runners on the corners. A passed ball allowed Casiano to score and make it a 10-run game. Later in the inning, a dropped fly ball brought in Kuhner and Boechler to give Monroe its final two runs of the game and make it a 17-5 difference.
 
Brooke Kane picked up the complete-game victory for Monroe, going five innings and allowing just two earned runs on three hits with three strikeouts to improve to 6-4 on the season. Her sister, Macy Kane, took the loss for Suffolk County to fall to 1-1.
 
Casanova went 2-for-4 with two doubles, three RBIs and two runs scored. Zapata batted 2-for-3 with three runs, two RBIs and a double. Casiano hit 2-for-3 with a triple, two RBIs and a run scored. Winstead homered in a 2-for-3 effort, knocking in two runs and scoring three more. Boechler batted 1-for-2 with three runs and an RBI. Kuhner finished 2-for-3 with three runs scored.
 
Game 2: Monroe 10, Suffolk 9
Suffolk once again put early pressure on the Mustangs, scoring two runs in the top of the first on a two-RBI single from Bailey Rand.
 
Much like Game 1, the Mustangs quickly rallied themselves into the lead in the bottom of the first. Boechler reached on an error, and Winstead singled to center with one away. Zapata then tipped a single up the middle, scoring Boechler to cut the deficit in half. A wild pitch put both runners in scoring position, and a double by Casanova brought both of them in to put Monroe ahead, 3-2. After Aguirre drew a walk, Abigail Cancilla blasted a triple down the right-field line to leave Monroe on top, 5-2, after one.
 
Suffolk quickly loaded the bases in the top of the third, and brought in a run with a walk for Cori Augustine to get the Sharks back within two. Alyssa Kelly then singled into right, bringing in another run to make it a one-run game. Maison Zumpol later added an RBI single into left to tie the game. Macy Kane capped off the inning with a sacrifice fly on a liner to left, bringing in one final run to give the Sharks a 6-5 advantage.
 
Casiano led off the fourth with a single, but she was soon called out at second on a fielder's choice from Brianna Martinez. With two outs, Boechler dropped a double into left to put two runners in scoring position. Winstead singled on a slow roller to third, bringing in Martinez to tie the game. Zapata then reached base on an error, scoring Boechler to put Monroe on top, 7-6.
 
Suffolk had runners on second and third when Rand sent one over the left fielder, touching all four bases for a three-run homer that put the Sharks ahead, 9-7, in the top of the sixth.
 
In the home half of the sixth, Kuhner ripped a line drive down the left-field line, allowing her to easily get around the bases for her ninth home run of the year, getting the Mustangs back within one heading into the final frame.
 
Still trailing by a run in the seventh, Zapata caught a bit of luck, reaching on a dropped fly ball by the right fielder to quickly put her on second base with nobody out. Casanova then drove a line drive deep down the right-field line, allowing her to sprint around the bases for a walkoff two-run homer.
 
Casiano picked up the win to improve to 5-2 on the season after tossing all seven innings for the Mustangs. Augustine took the loss for Suffolk to fall to 0-3.
 
Casanova finished 2-for-4 with four RBIs, two runs, a double and the walkoff two-run homer to lead the Mustangs. Kuhner, Winstead and Zapata each hit 2-for-4 in the win as well. Cancilla hit 1-for-3 with a two-RBI triple.
 
Monroe will play next on Friday, March 30, when they host Lackawanna College for a doubleheader at Flowers Park. Friday's first game is set to begin at 12 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).