FLORENCE, S.C., March 2, 2019 – After its first day in South Carolina was washed out by rain, the Monroe College Mustangs baseball team split a doubleheader with Florence-Darlington Technical College on Saturday. The Stingers picked up a 3-0 win in Game 1, but the Mustangs bounced back with a 6-5 victory in Saturday's finale. Monroe moves to 3-13 overall, while the Stingers move to 12-5.
 
GAME 1: FLORENCE-DARLINGTON 3, MONROE 0
The Stingers got on the board first in the bottom of the second in Game 1. An error put Michael Elijah on second to lead off the inning. A sacrifice bunt moved him over to third, and then a sacrifice fly by Grant Bodison brought him in to score to make it a 1-0 game.
 
The Stingers doubled their lead in the bottom of the fourth. The home team loaded the bases for Bodison, who hit a fly ball to center field. The runner on third did not tag up, but the throw back to third got away, allowing him to score anyway and make it a 2-0 game.
 
Bodison was once again put in position to bring in a run in the sixth for the Stingers. With two runners in scoring position, he dropped a bunt toward the pitcher, beating it out for a single and bringing the runner in from third to make it a 3-0 game.
 
Will Abbott picked up the win for Florence-Darlington to improve to 1-2. July Sosa shouldered his first loss of the season despite a solid outing. Sosa went all six innings for Monroe, allowing just one earned run while striking out seven batters.
 
GAME 2: MONROE 6, FLORENCE-DARLINGTON 5
The Mustangs got off to a much-needed strong start in the top of the first in Game 2, taking advantage of a lucky break. Jose Martinez and Gustavo Gonzalez drew back-to-back walks to start the inning for Monroe. Daniel Alfonzo then reached on an error by the right fielder, bringing in Martinez from second for a quick 1-0 lead. Joseph Encarnacion then grounded out to second, but he was able to bring in Gonzalez from third and give Monroe a 2-0 lead.
 
The scoring halted until the bottom of the fourth, when the Stingers rallied to take their first lead of the game. A hit-by-pitch and a single put two runners on for the Stingers. Alex Stennett then roped a triple to right, scoring both runners to tie the game at 2-2. Ceejay Belton then grounded out to third, but it was enough to bring in Stennett and put the Stingers on top, 3-2.
 
A two-out rally in the top of the fifth put the Mustangs right back in the lead. Alfonzo was hit by a pitch with two outs, then Encarnacion singled to get two runners on. Adner Mercado then doubled to deep right, plating both runners to put Monroe back on top, 4-3.
 
The Mustangs built upon their lead in the top of the sixth. Leandy Castro sent a fly ball deep to center, good for a triple with one away. Neifi Mercedes then pinch hit, and came through in his opportunity with a single through the left side to score Castro and put the Mustangs up by two. Mercedes was then caught stealing second, but Martinez kept the inning alive with a walk. Gonzalez then doubled to right, scoring Martinez to leave Monroe up, 6-3.
 
The Stingers chipped away at the deficit in the home half of the sixth. Elijah hit a one-out single into left. Patrick Baggett then doubled on a line drive to left, scoring Elijah from first to make it a two-run game.
 
The Mustangs ran into trouble in the bottom of the seventh after the first two batters of the inning reached on singles. A one-out walk later loaded the bases, and another walk brought in a run to make it a 6-5 game. Jacknell Guzman then came in for the Mustangs, forcing his first batter to ground into a double play to third, ending the game with a one-run victory for Monroe.
 
Brandon Backman improved to 2-1 on the season, earning the win after allowing four runs in 5.1 innings with an impressive 13 strikeouts. Guzman earned his second save of the season with his game-ending double play. Zac Branham took the loss for Florence-Darlington to fall to 1-2.
 
Adner Mercado went 1-for-4 in the win, knocking in two runs with a double. Castro also finished 1-for-4, scoring a run after hitting a triple and adding a stolen base. Gonzalez and Encarnacion both batted 1-for-3 with a run and an RBI, while Gonzalez added a double. Martinez went 0-for-2, but managed to score twice and steal a base after drawing a pair of walks. Mercedes went 1-for-1 with an RBI single after pinch hitting in the fifth.
 
The Mustangs and Stingers will go at it two more times on Sunday, March 3, with a doubleheader beginning at 12 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).