RANDOLPH, N.J., April 23, 2018 – The Monroe College softball team shouldered a pair of losses in a doubleheader at County College of Morris Monday afternoon. The Titans picked up decisions of 7-6 and 10-1 over the Mustangs. Monroe falls to 19-16 on the year, while Morris improves to 30-7.
 
Game 1: Morris 7, Monroe 6
Monday's opener got off to a very quick start for both teams, beginning with a leadoff single by Brooke Boechler in the top of the first. She then moved to second on a ground ball, and was quickly knocked in on a single up the middle by Chantel Winstead to make it a 1-0 game. Veronica Casanova then doubled to right to bring in Winstead, followed by another double off the bat of Selena Aguirre to put the Mustangs up, 3-0.
 
The Titans did not wait long to make an impact in the bottom of the first, as Katlyn Lloyd and Melissa Ackerman hit back-to-back homers in the home team's first two at bats to cut Monroe's lead to 3-2. Mustang starter Brianna Casiano then settled in to retire the side without any more damage.
 
Abigail Cancilla led off the second with Monroe's third double of the game. With one away, Boechler blasted a two-run homer over the left field fence to push Monroe's lead to 5-2.
 
The Titans once again chipped away at Monroe's lead in the bottom of the third. Ackerman led off with a double to right, and another double by Carly McDaniel put two runners in scoring position after Ackerman was forced to hold up at third. Nicole Catalina then reached on an error that brought in Ackerman to make it a two-run game. Bethany Hill then laid down a sacrifice bunt that plated McDaniel from third to make it a 5-4 ballgame.
 
Boechler drew a walk with one away in the fourth, and then Winstead singled on a line drive to center. Casanova then reached on an error that plated Boechler to make it a 6-4 Mustang lead.
 
Ally Tufaro made it a one-run game when she hit a solo homer for the Titans in the bottom of the fifth.
 
The game went to the seventh with the Mustangs still up, 6-5. Lloyd led off the seventh with a game-tying solo home run. Ackerman then followed suit with her second homer of the day, this time giving Morris a walkoff 7-6 victory.
 
Morris starter Jonnalyn McClain picked up the win despite allowing six runs (five earned) in seven innings. Casiano shouldered the loss for Monroe to fall to 9-4 on the year.
 
Boechler continued her hot streak in Monday's opener, going 3-for-3 with two RBIs, three runs and her second home run of the season. Winstead went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run, while Casanova batted 1-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a run.
 
Game 2: Morris 10, Monroe 1 (5 innings)
The Mustangs got off to a nice start when Casanova hit a two-out solo homer in the top of the first to give the visitors a quick 1-0 advantage.
 
The Mustang lead was immediately erased in the bottom of the inning when Lloyd hit her third leadoff home run of the day, tying the game at 1-1.
 
The Titans put together a big inning in the bottom of the second, producing four runs on three hits to take a 5-1 edge. They went on a similar run in the third, picking up five runs, three of which were scored on a three-RBI double by Nicole Catalina, to give the home team a 10-1 lead. Morris went on to close out the game in five innings.
 
Kellie Faber picked up the win for Morris to improve to 17-3 after allowing one run in five innings of work. Brooke Kane shouldered the loss for the Mustangs.
 
Casanova hit 1-for-2 for the Mustangs with a solo home run, her fourth of the year and second in as many days. Luna Hernandez batted 1-for-2 as well.
 
The Mustangs will head up to Warwick, R.I. tomorrow, April 24, to take on Community College of Rhode Island for their final regular season doubleheader of 2018 and final tune-up before the Regional Championship Tournament. First pitch is set for 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
 
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).