NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., March 12, 2019 – After recovering from an early 2-0 deficit, the Monroe College Mustangs baseball team rallied for a 4-2 victory over SUNY Sullivan in the Mustangs' home opener at Dick Caswell Field on Tuesday. The Mustangs improve to 5-14 with the win, while the Generals drop to 2-1.
 
The Generals struck first with a bit of help in the top of the first. Giovanni Diaz walked to lead off the game, and the moved to second on a ground out. A passed ball allowed him to move to third, and then a ground out by Pedro Abreu brought in Diaz from third to give the visitors a quick 1-0 lead.
 
Sullivan once again took advantage of a Mustang miscue in the third to get on the board. Diaz drew a one-out walk, and was then able to move to second when a pickoff attempt got past the first baseman. He then scored on a two-out single to right by Abreu, giving the Generals a 2-0 advantage.
 
The Mustangs managed to cut into the deficit in the bottom of the fourth. Joseph Encarnacion led off the inning with a single to right, and moved to second on a ground out by Freddy Rojas Jr. With two outs, an error by the second baseman allowed Encarnacion to score from second and make it a 2-1 game.
 
The Mustangs were again able to take advantage of a mistake by the Generals in the sixth. DJ Gatz struck out to lead off the inning, but his hustle after a dropped third strike rushed the throw to first, which the catcher threw high, allowing him to reach base. He was then sacrificed over to second, putting the tying run in scoring position. He moved to third on a passed ball, then Manrique Mora drew a walk and stole second to put the leading run in scoring position as well. Iasid Bernal then came through with a single into right, scoring both runners to put the Mustangs on top, 3-2.
 
Monroe added to its lead in the bottom of the seventh to give the Mustangs some comfort room. The bases were loaded with two out for Mora, who drew a walk to bring Daniel Alfonzo home from third and make it a 4-2 game.
 
Nathan Presbot took over in the top of the eighth, but he ran into some trouble when the Generals loaded the bases with one out. He worked his way out of it with back-to-back strikeouts to keep the Mustangs in the lead. Rigo Tapia then took the hill in the ninth. After his own throwing error put the leadoff runner on, he struck out the next three batters to keep Sullivan off the board and earn his first save.
 
July Sosa was brilliant in relief on Tuesday, tossing four innings with 10 strikeouts and no runs allowed to earn his first win as a Mustangs and improve to 1-1. Brandon Backman went three innings in his start, giving up just one hit and two unearned runs while striking out four batters. Sullivan reliever Leandro Hernandez took the loss after giving up three runs in 2.2 frames.
 
Bernal finished 1-for-3 with what proved to be the game-winning two-RBI single. Encarnacion hit 1-for-2 with a run scored. Gustavo Gonzalez batted 1-for-3. Gatz and Mora both scored runs after coming into the game late, while Mora also picked up an RBI on a bases-loaded walk.
 
The Mustangs are scheduled to play next on Tuesday, March 19, when they host Lackawanna College for a doubleheader at Dick Caswell Field. Game 1 is set to begin at 3:30 p.m.
 
ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE COLLEGE
The athletic program at Monroe College encompasses a total of 29 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 nine varsity and junior varsity 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).