WARWICK, R.I., April 24, 2018 – The Monroe College softball team trekked up to Warwick, R.I. on Tuesday to take on Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) in its final regular-season doubleheader of the season. The Mustangs fell in Game 1, 6-3, but bounced back for an 8-4 victory in the finale. The Mustangs finish the regular season with a 20-17 record, while CCRI goes to 10-15 overall.
 
Game 1: CCRI 6, Monroe 3
Things got off to a rocky start for the Mustangs after the Knights put runners on the corners with two down in the bottom of the first. A passed ball allowed Hannah Caliri to score from third, and then Miranda Sasso hit a two-run homer to make it a 3-0 game.
 
The Mustangs came galloping back in the top of the third, starting with a one-out single by Kimberly Zapata. Chantel Winstead then drew a walk to get two runners on. Veronica Casanova then tied the game with one swing, homering over the left-field fence to knot things up at 3-3.
 
CCRI put runners on second and third with one down in the third. Michelle Spremulli then grounded out to short, allowing a run to score and make it a 4-3 lead for the home team.
 
The scoring halted until CCRI's at bat in the bottom of the sixth. Three straight singles to start the inning put the Knights in prime position to improve upon their lead. Samantha Muller then hit a sacrifice fly to right, scoring Danielle David to push the lead to two. Kelsie Fitta then lined out to short, but an error on the play allowed a runner to score, making it a 6-3 ballgame.
 
CCRI reliever Kailee Morgan picked up the win after tossing four innings in relief without allowing a run. Brianna Casiano took the loss for Monroe after giving up just two earned runs in six frames, falling to 9-5.
 
Casanova went 1-for-2 with her third home run in as many days, as well as three RBIs and a run scored. Winstead also went 1-for-2 with a run.
 
Game 2: Monroe 8, CCRI 4
Monroe got the early jump on the Knights in Game 2 with a big first inning. Zapata led off the game with a double, followed by a single from Winstead. Zapata then scored on a wild pitch to make it a 1-0 game. With one away, Selena Aguirre grounded out to second, allowing Winstead to score from third and score the second Mustang run. Monroe put runners on the corners for Casiano, who singled to center to score Brianna Martinez for a three-run lead. Abigail Cancilla then singled into center, scoring Luna Hernandez to push Monroe's lead to 4-0.
 
CCRI led off the bottom of the second with three straight singles to load the bases. A fielder's choice off the bat of Dalynn Jacobs scored Spremulli, making it a 4-1 game.
 
Not satisfied with a three-run lead, the Mustangs started another rally with two outs in the third when Cancilla singled to right. An error put Kortney Semper on base, and a walk by Zapata put three runners on for the Mustangs. Winstead then singled to right, scoring Cancilla and Semper to push Monroe's lead to 6-1.
 
The Mustangs loaded the bases with two away in the top of the fifth. Casanova then drew a walk, plating Semper to make it a 7-1 ballgame.
 
The Knights chipped away a bit at the Mustangs' lead in the bottom of the fifth. Caliri hit a solo homer with two outs, and after Spremulli walked, Sasso hit a two-run homer of her own, cutting the deficit to three runs.
 
Martinez doubled to lead off the sixth for Monroe, and then reached third on a passed ball. Hernandez brought her in with a sacrifice fly to right, giving the Mustangs an 8-4 edge.
 
Casiano got her win back in Game 2, going to complete seven frames to improve to 10-5 overall. CCRI starter Caliri falls to 5-3 with the loss.
 
CCRI could not get Winstead out in Game 2, as she hit 5-for-5 with two RBIs and a run scored. Zapata batted 3-for-4 with a run and a double. Martinez also doubled and scored twice after going 1-for-4. Cancilla finished 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run. Semper scored twice as well.
 
The Mustangs will now head down to Sumter, S.C. to compete in the Region X Championship Tournament, hosted by USC Sumter. Monroe opens up on Friday, April 27, taking on No. 3 seed Harford Community College 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).