NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., March 15, 2019 – Fueled by a pair of four-RBI performances by Daniel Alfonzo and Iasid Bernal, the Monroe College Mustangs baseball team rolled to a 14-6, eight-inning victory over Bronx Community College on Thursday at Dick Caswell Field. The Mustangs improve to 6-14 overall, while Bronx drops to 0-1.
 
The Mustangs fell into an early hole on Thursday when the Broncos scored four runs in the top of the second without picking up a hit in the inning. Four straight walks to start the second brought in the first run of the day, and a one-out hit-by-pitch brought in the second. A wild pitch brought in Bronx's third run, and a sacrifice fly by Hector Camacho put the Broncos on top, 4-0.
 
Freddy Rojas Jr. led off the bottom of the second with a single up the middle. He later stole second with one out, and then scored on an RBI double by Bernal down the left-field line to get Monroe back within three.
 
Bronx added to its lead in the top of the third. Adrian Urena singled to lead off the inning and later moved to second on a passed ball. Neudy Salvador then doubled to right, scoring Urena to make it a 5-1 game.
 
The Mustangs rallied to make up the difference in the home half of the third. Gustavo Gonzalez drew a one-out walk, then Alfonzo singled to get two runners on. Rojas walked with two down, and then Jose Mercado was hit by a pitch, scoring Gonzalez to get within three. Bernal then blasted a triple to deep left field, clearing the bases to tie the game at 5-5.
 
Matthew Rivera beat out an infield single to lead off the fourth for Bronx. With one out, Justin Nunez then doubled in Rivera to put the Broncos back on top, 6-5.
 
Jose Martinez drew a walk with one out in the bottom of the fourth frame. Gonzalez was then plunked to get two runners on. Monroe successfully pulled off a double steal, and a bad throw by the catcher put Gonzalez on third and allowed Martinez to score to tie the game. Alfonzo then brought in Gonzalez with a sacrifice fly to center, giving the Mustangs a 7-6 lead.
 
The Mustangs had two on and two out in the bottom of the fifth when Gonzalez ripped a double to left, scoring Manrique Mora from second to make it an 8-6 game.
 
The Mustangs broke it open in the bottom of the sixth. Rojas hit a one-out triple to right, and then a pinch-hitting Leandy Castro doubled him in to put the Mustangs up by three. A single by Luis Morales brought in Castro to make it a 10-6 game. With the bases loaded later in the inning, a walk by Gonzalez brought in Morales to put Monroe ahead by five. Alfonzo then doubled to center, scoring Martinez and Rosselli to leave the Mustangs up, 13-6.
 
The Mustangs put the NJCAA baseball mercy rule into effect in the bottom of the eighth. With two outs, Adner Mercado hit a pinch-hit single into right. Gonzalez was then hit by a pitch, and Alfonzo followed with a walkoff single up the middle, plating Mercado from second to end the game with the Mustangs going up by eight runs.
 
Andrew Pena picked up the win in relief for the Mustangs to improve to 1-0. The sophomore allowed just one run in two frames while striking out three batters. Victor Pena took the loss for the Broncos after allowing two runs in one inning of work, dropping him to 0-1 to start the season.
 
Alfonzo finished 4-for-5 with four RBIs, a run and a double in the win. Bernal batted 3-for-3 with a single, double, triple, and four RBIs. Gonzalez went 1-for-2 with two RBIs, two runs scored, a double and a stolen base. Rojas hit 2-for-3 with three runs scored, a triple and a stolen base. Castro and Morales both came on later in the game and had matching 1-for-2, one-RBI, one-run lines, while Castro added a double.
 
The Mustangs will take the weekend off before getting back to work on Tuesday, March 19, when they host Lackawanna College for a doubleheader at Dick Caswell Field. Game 1 is scheduled to begin at 3:30 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 19 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).