NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., April 8, 2018 – The Monroe College softball team split a doubleheader with the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) Sunday afternoon at Flowers Park. CCRI took a 9-8 decision in Game 1, but the Mustangs bounced back behind a strong pitching performance by Brianna Casiano in Game 2. Monroe moves to 14-9 on the year, while CCRI goes to 5-9.
 
Game 1: Monroe 9, CCRI 8
Brooke Boechler hit a one-out single in the bottom of the first to get the first Mustang runner of the game on base. Three straight passed balls then brought Boechler all the way around to score, giving the Mustangs a quick 1-0 lead.
 
Abigail Cancilla and Brianna Casiano both reached on errors to start the second. Kimberly Zapata then dropped a single into right-center, scoring both runners to make it a 3-0 game.
 
CCRI loaded the bases in the top of the third with one away. Hannah Caliri was then hit by a pitch, bringing in CCRI's first run of the day. Miranda Sasso then hit a hard grounder that was misplayed by the third baseman, allowing two more runs to score and tie the game at 3-3.
 
Veronica Casanova led off the third with a triple to deep left field. Selena Aguirre then hit a fly ball to center, deep enough to bring home Casanova on a sacrifice fly and make it a 4-3 game in favor of the Mustangs. Brianna Martinez then reached on an error by the third baseman, and moved to second on a groundout by Cancilla. She went to third on a passed ball, and went on to score on Luna Hernandez's single up the middle, making it a 5-3 game.
 
Maddie McDonald led off the fifth for CCRI by reaching on an error. Caliri was then hit by a pitch, and a passed ball moved both runners into scoring position. Michelle Spremulli then singled in McDonald to make it a one-run ballgame. Boechler caught Spremulli taking her time going back to first, and forced her into a rundown on her way to second, but a throw in the dirt allowed her to reach second safely, and allowed Caliri to score and tie the game at 5-5.
 
Martinez hit a one-out single to get things going for Monroe in the bottom of the fifth. Cancilla then reached on a fielder's choice to short, but Martinez beat the throw to second. Casiano then singled through the left side to plate Martinez and put Monroe back in the lead. Hernandez then ripped a single up the middle, scoring Cancilla to make it a 7-5 game. Zapata added another single right up the middle, bringing Casiano in to score and leaving the Mustangs up, 8-5, after five.
 
With runners on second and third in the sixth, McDonald hit a two-RBI double to right-center, drawing the Knights back within a run. Later, with two outs and the bases loaded, a wild pitch brought in McDonald to tie the game at 8-8. Danielle David then singled through the left side to bring in the leading run and puts the Knights up, 9-8.
 
CCRI's Kailee Morgan picked up the win to improve to 2-2 on the season. Brooke Kane fell to 7-6 with the loss.
 
Zapata went 2-for-4 with three RBIs for the Mustangs in Game 1. Casanova finished 2-for-4 with a run scored and a triple. Casiano hit 1-for-3 with two runs and an RBI, as well as two stolen bases. Martinez scored twice after going 1-for-4.
 
Game 2: Monroe 7, CCRI 2
With one out in the first, Boechler, Chantel Winstead and Casanova hit three straight singles to load the bases. A wild pitch then scored Winstead to give Monroe a quick 1-0 lead. With the bases loaded once again, Cancilla ripped a double to left-center, scoring two more to make it 3-0.
 
Boechler was standing on first with two down in the second when Winstead hit a grounder to the pitcher that was thrown well over the head of the first baseman, allowing Boechler to come all the way around to score and make it a 4-0 game. The exact same thing happened in Casanova's at bat, scoring Winstead to give Monroe a 5-0 lead.
 
After three scoreless innings, the Mustangs got things going again in the bottom of the sixth. Zapata led off with a single into right that got past the right fielder, allowing Zapata to trot to third. Boechler then singled up the middle to score Zapata and make it a 6-0 game. Boechler then took off for second as the catcher threw to first, and moved to third after the throw from the first baseman went into the outfield. Selena Aguirre then singled into right-center, scoring Boechler to make it a 7-0 ballgame.
 
CCRI rallied for two runs in the top of the seventh, but it would not be enough to mount a comeback for the Knights.
 
Casiano went the complete seven innings for the win in Game 2 to improve to 6-2. Just one earned run on five hits while striking out five batters. CCRI starter Samantha Muller took the loss to fall to 1-6.
 
Boechler hit 2-for-4 with three runs and an RBI in Game 2. Zapata finished 2-for-4 with a run scored. Cancilla batted 1-for-3 with two RBIs and a double. Casiano had another nice game at the dish, going 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles.
 
The Mustangs will play six games on the road this week, starting with a trip to Harford Community College on Thursday, April 12. First pitch of Thursday's doubleheader is set for 5 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).