WEST WINDSOR, N.J., May 3, 2018 – The Monroe College baseball team erased a three-run deficit with a huge nine-run sixth inning that lifted the Mustangs to a 14-10 victory on the road at Mercer County Community College on Thursday. The Mustangs improve to 28-13-1 overall, while Mercer County falls to 26-18-1.
 
The Mustangs got to work quickly in Thursday's road contest. Marquis Orozco drew a one-out walk in the top of the first. Shadrach Meulens later hit a two-out single to center to keep the inning alive. Lenyn Napoleon then hit a grounder to short that was misplayed, allowing two runs to score and give Monroe an early 2-0 advantage.
 
Mercer County put two runners on in the bottom of the first, allowing Ciaran Devenney to bring in a run on a one-out single to right, cutting the deficit to 2-1.
 
The Mustangs quickly erased the Vikings' run in the top of the second. Joseph Encarnacion led off with a double, and then Kevin Garcia reached on an error that put runners on the corners. Edwin Feliciano Jr. then hit a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Encarnacion to make it a 3-1 ballgame.
 
The Vikings loaded the bases with one away in the bottom of the second. Collin Sheehan then singled through the right side, scoring two runs to tie the game at 3-3. A wild pitch then brought Sean McGeehan home from third to make it a 4-3 game in favor of the Vikings. The Vikings got one more in the inning when an error allowed one more run to come in, leaving the home team up, 5-3, after two.
 
Meulens doubled to lead off the third. He then stole third with one away, and came home on a sacrifice fly to left by Troy Davern, getting the Mustangs back within a run.
 
The Vikings added to their lead in the bottom of the third, starting with a two-out solo homer for McGeehan that made it a 6-4 game. An error then allowed Sheehan to score two batters later to put the home team up, 7-4.
 
Things finally turned around for the Mustangs in the top of the sixth, when, much like the day before, they strung together a huge inning to take the lead. Monroe kicked off the sixth with a double to left by Kevin Garcia, who was then pinch run for by Juan Torres. Feliciano followed with a double of his own to plate Torres and make it a 7-5 game. Gustavo Gonzalez then made it three straight doubles, scoring Feliciano to draw within a run. Orozco reached on an error to second that allowed Gonzalez to score, tying the game at 7-7.
 
The Mustangs were not done there, as Bernal kept things going with a single to center to get runners on the corners. Napoleon was later hit by a pitch to load the bases. Davern came through with a double to center, plating two more runs to put the Mustangs on top, 9-7. Encarnacion brought in Monroe's 10th run of the day on a groundout to short. Torres then doubled in his first at bat of the day, bringing in Davern to push Monroe's lead to 11-7. After an infield single for Feliciano, Gonzalez smacked his second double of the inning, bringing in two more runs to leave the Mustangs ahead, 13-7, after a nine-run sixth.
 
Mercer County managed to get one back in the bottom of the inning when a balk brought in Moses Vigo to make it a five-run game.
 
After a Sheehan double with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Domonic Boselli homered to left, drawing the Vikings within three runs.
 
In the visitor's half of the ninth, Edgardo Bernard hit a one-out single, followed by a double for Meulens. With two down, a passed ball allowed Bernard to score from third, giving the Mustangs a 14-10 advantage.
 
Nicholas Gennarelli earned the win in relief to improve to 2-2 after tossing 2.1 scoreless frames, striking out two batters and allowing just one hit. Mercer County reliever Peter Nielsen took the loss after giving up six runs in the Mustangs' huge sixth inning. Jason Alvarez and Edwin Feliciano Jr. combined for 2.1 hitless frames to close out the game.
 
Gonzalez batted 3-for-6 with two doubles, three RBIs, a run and a stolen base in a big game for the Mustangs on Thursday.  Meulens matched his 3-for-6 outing, also hitting two doubles, while scoring two runs and stealing a bag. Feliciano finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs, two runs scored and a double. Davern batted 1-for-5 with a double, three RBIs and a run. Torres took advantage of his few opportunities, going 1-for-1 with a double, a RBI and two runs scored. Orozco finished 1-for-3 with two runs and three walks.
 
The Mustangs will look to make it three wins in a row when they host Harford Community College tomorrow, May 4, at Dick Caswell Field. First pitch is scheduled for 6 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).