MYRTLE BEACH, S.C., March 10, 2019 – The Monroe College Mustangs softball team dropped a pair of close contests on Sunday against USC Salkehatchie on the team's second day at the Ripken Experience in Myrtle Beach, S.C. The Mustangs dropped a 9-6 decision in Game 1, followed after with a 3-2 defeat in Game 2. Monroe drops to 0-4 to start the season, while the Indians improve to 19-10.
 
GAME 1: USC SALKEHATCHIE 9, MONROE 6
The Mustangs benefitted from some heads-up base running to take an early lead in the top of the first. Chantel Winstead led off the game with a walk. Keira Matos then sacrificed her over to second, and Winstead turned and went to third when she saw the base was not being covered. A throw then went toward third, but the throw went high, allowing Winstead to come all the way around and score and give the Mustangs a quick 1-0 lead.
 
Momentum quickly swung back in the Indians' favor in their first at-bat of the day. The first two batters reached base for the Indians, and then a one-out single by Tiara Peters loaded the bases. Another two singles by Daisy Byrd and Samantha Blackwell brought in two runs to give the Indians the lead. An error on the next play then allowed the Indians to clear the bases, bringing three more runs home to claim a 5-1 advantage after the first.
 
The bottom of the second proved troublesome again for the Mustangs. With runners on the corners, an attempt at picking off the runner at third got away, allowing a run to score and make it a 6-1 game. With one out and a runner on third, Ally Hardee hit a sacrifice fly to left, bringing in USC Salkehatchie's seventh run of the day.
 
The Indians continued to build upon their lead in the bottom of the third when Haley Rawls capitalized on Byrd's leadoff triple, bringing her in with a single to make it an 8-1 game. They then added to the lead once again in the fourth on Peters' RBI single to take an eight-run lead.
 
The Mustangs were staring at a mercy-rule defeat in the top of the fifth, but showed that they have plenty of fight in them. Baudy Alba, Abigail Cancilla and Alyssa Medina all worked their way onto the base paths, leaving the bases loaded for Winstead with two outs. Winstead came through, slamming a triple to deep center to clear the bases and make it a 9-4 game. Macie Kuppenbender then followed with a single up the middle, scoring Winstead to get Monroe back within four.
 
After putting the Indians away in order in the bottom of the fifth, the Mustangs once again managed to chip away at the deficit. Marissa Vanduzer reached base on an error, then Alba singled to put runners on the corners. Cancilla then singled into left, scoring Vanduzer to make it a three-run game. Unfortunately, the Mustangs were not able to get any closer, eventually falling by three.
 
Kacey Williams picked up the win in relief for the Indians to improve to 5-3 on the year. Keira Matos shouldered her first loss of the season after allowing seven runs (three earned). Kuppenbender struck out nine batters in five innings of relief work.
 
Winstead batted 2-for-3 with three RBIs, two runs and a triple in Game 1. Kuppenbender hit 2-for-3 with an RBI. Alba went 2-for-4 with a run, while Cancilla scored twice and knocked in another run after hitting 1-for-2. Medina also went 1-for-2 with a run and a double. Vanduzer scored a run after hitting 1-for-4.
 
GAME 2: USC SALKEHATCHIE 3, MONROE 2
The Indians took the early advantage in Game 2 when Marlana Burns knocked in a run with a single to right that put USC Salkehatchie up, 1-0.
 
Both teams were unable to bring in any more runs until the fifth frame. Shelby Miller led off the top of the inning with a single, and then an error on a ground ball by Lauren Wexler managed to let both runs come in to score, leaving the Indians up, 3-0.
 
In the bottom of the inning, Vanduzer got things going with a one-out single. Samantha Mancillas then doubled to left, scoring Vanduzer to get the Mustangs within two. Alba then singled to center, plating Mancillas to make it a one-run game. The Mustangs were unable to continue their rally, and ultimately fell by that same 3-2 score.
 
Rawls got the start and the win for the Indians in Sunday's finale, allowing two runs in six frames to improve to 2-1. MaKayla Towne picked up the save after holding the Indians' lead in the seventh. Kuppenbender took her third loss of the season despite allowing just one earned run in seven stanzas.
 
Mancillas finished 1-for-3 with an RBI, a run and a double in Game 2. Alba hit 1-for-4 with an RBI, while Vanduzer batted 1-for-3 with a run. Anessa Quiroz also finished 1-for-3.
 
The Mustangs will look to bounce back on Tuesday, March 12, when they take on John Wood Community College and Paul D. Camp Community College as they continue their trip to the Ripken Experience. Game 1 is set to begin at 9 a.m.
 
AB­OUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE COLLEGE
The athletic program at Monroe College encompasses a total of 28 teams competing across nine sports. There are 18 varsity and junior varsity programs, as well as club men's and women's rugby, and the newly added club men's volleyball team, 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).