MYRTLE BEACH, S.C., March 12, 2019 – The Monroe College Mustangs softball team picked up its first victory over 2019 in its second game on Tuesday, defeating Paul D. Camp Community College, 4-3, to cap off the team's third day of play at the Ripken Experience in Myrtle Beach. The Mustangs dropped a 6-2 decision to John Wood Community College in Game 1. The Mustangs move to 1-5 on the season with the split.
 
GAME 1: JOHN WOOD 6, MONROE 2
The Blazers got things started in the top of the second when they rallied for four runs. The big blow was a two-run double by Emma Taylor that made it a 4-0 game.
 
The Mustangs got one back in the bottom of the third. Chantel Winstead hit a one-out single, and then an error in the next at bat allowed her to come all the way around to score and cut the deficit to three.
 
The Blazers got back on the board again in the top of the seventh. Hanna Spiekermeier hit a bases-loaded double, making it a 6-1 game in the final frame.
 
The Mustangs got one more run back in the bottom of the seventh when Winstead reached on an error that brought home a run, but that was all the Mustangs could get in the final inning.
 
Winstead finished 1-for-4 with a run scored in Game 1. Megan Soto batted 1-for-2, while Macie Kuppenbender hit 1-for-3.
 
Torre Koontz earned the win for John Wood after tossing a complete game. Kuppenbender shouldered the loss to fall to 0-4 despite allowing just two earned runs in seven frames.
 
GAME 2: MONROE 4, PAUL D. CAMP 3
Samantha Mancillas got things going for the Mustangs in the top of the first. With Winstead on second after a single and a stolen base, Mancillas hit a two-out single to center, scoring Winstead for an early 1-0 advantage.
 
The Hurricanes did not let the Mustangs hold the lead for long, tying the game in the bottom of the first. With the bases loaded, Jeana Webb hit a two-out single to center, plating the tying run to knot things up after the first.
 
Mancillas was standing on second with one down in the top of the third when Baudy Alba sent a single into right, scoring Mancillas to put the Mustangs back up, 2-1.
 
The Mustangs held that lead until Paul D. Camp rallied in the bottom of the fifth. The Hurricanes had a runner on second when Hailey Fleming doubled to left, bringing in a run to tie the game at two. Casie Wright then drew a walk, and when the Hurricanes attempted a double steal, the throw to third got away and allowed Fleming to score, putting the Hurricanes up, 3-2.
 
The Mustangs quickly tied things up by finding their power late in the game. With one out in the top of the sixth, Abigail Cancilla blasted an inside-the-park home run to right, knotting things up at 3-3.
 
The seventh looked much like the sixth, as Mancillas stepped up to the plate with one out. Like Cancilla, Mancillas sent a long fly ball to right field, deep enough for her to round the bases for an inside-the-park home run of her own, putting the Mustangs up, 4-3. Kuppenbender was then able to escape the bottom of the seventh with the tying run stranded on third to hang on for the win.
 
Kuppenbender picked up her first win with two scoreless innings in relief to improve to 1-4 on the season. Keira Matos got the start for Monroe, going four innings and allowing just one run. Wright took the loss for Paul D. Camp after allowing four runs over the complete seven frames.
 
Mancillas finished Game 2 with two runs and two RBIs after hitting 3-for-4 with her first home run, which proved to be the game winner. Cancilla batted 2-for-3 with the game-tying solo home run. Winstead went 2-for-3 with a run and three stolen bases in the win. Soto batted 1-for-2 with a stolen base, while Alba went 1-for-4 with an RBI. Marissa Vanduzer also hit 1-for-4.
 
The Mustangs will look to turn their first win into a winning streak when they take on USC Sumter in a doubleheader tomorrow afternoon in Myrtle Beach. First pitch of Game 1 is scheduled for 1 p.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).