WHARTON, Texas, February 14, 2019 – The Monroe College Mustangs baseball team suffered a 5-2 setback at Wharton County Junior College at Pioneer Field Thursday evening, Monroe's second day of its trip down south. The Mustangs fall to 1-5 on the season, while the Pioneers improve to 5-4.
 
The Mustangs struck first on Thursday with a run in the top of the first. Gustavo Gonzalez led off the game with a single up the middle, and then moved up to second when Manrique Mora walked. With one out, Daniel Alfonzo singled to center, plating Gonzalez to make it an early 1-0 lead for Monroe.
 
Things changed quickly when the Pioneers came to bat in the home half of the first. With runners on the corners and two outs, Colton Carrion was able to steal home on a double steal to tie the game. After a walk put two runners on base, Jacob Wilk hit a three-run homer to left, putting the home team up, 4-1, after one.
 
The scoring halted from that point until the top of the seventh inning. Francisco Paulino led off with a double to right. Dante Paolucci and Jose Martinez were then both hit by pitches to load the bases with one away. Gonzalez then hit a fly ball to center, deep enough to bring in Paulino for a sacrifice fly, making it a 4-2 ballgame. The Mustangs were unable to bring in another run in the inning and remained down by two.
 
The Pioneers added to their lead in the bottom of the eighth when Shane Podsednik hit a solo homer to deep center field, making it a 5-2 ballgame.
 
Starter Anthony Vargas took the loss to fall to 0-1. Elian Oda was strong in relief, tossing six frames of one-run ball while striking out seven batters. He allowed six hits and did not walk a batter. Starter Cameron Foster earned the win for Wharton County, allowing one run across six frames to improve to 2-0. Deryk Serbantez earned a save with 2.2 scoreless frames.
 
Gonzalez finished 1-for-4 with an RBI and a run on Thursday. Alfonzo had his second straight solid game, going 1-for-3 with an RBI. Paulino batted 1-for-4 with a double and a run scored. Joseph Encarnacion went 1-for-3 in the game.
 
The Mustangs continue a tough slate in Texas on Friday, Feb. 15, when they visit San Jacinto College North in Houston for a doubleheader. Game 1 is set to begin at 5 p.m. EST.
 
ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE COLLEGE
The athletic program at Monroe College encompasses a total of 27 teams competing across nine sports. There are 18 varsity and junior varsity programs, as well as club men's and women's rugby, competing on the New Rochelle campus as the Monroe Mustangs (NJCAA Division I). The Monroe Express, based out of the Bronx campus as of the fall of 2017, has seven teams competing at the NJCAA Division III level.
 
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).