NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., March 22, 2019 – Make it six wins in a row, including four straight at home for the Monroe College Mustangs softball team, as the Mustangs swept a doubleheader against Brookdale Community College Friday afternoon at Flowers Park. The Mustangs picked up a 5-3 win in Game 1, followed by a 10-5 triumph in the finale. Monroe improves to 9-6 on the year with the wins, while Brookdale falls to 7-5.
 
GAME 1: MONROE 5, BROOKDALE 3
Kaitlin Vazquez reached on an error to lead off the second for Brookdale. Another error two batters later put two runners on, and then a walk by Carley Layton loaded the bases. Shakyra Moore then singled through the left side, scoring two runs to give the Jersey Blues a 2-0 lead.
 
Abigail Cancilla led off the bottom of the third with a walk, and was then sacrificed over to second by Stacy Hernandez. Kaylynn Lopez then doubled to left, bringing in Cancilla to get the Mustangs back within a run. Samantha Mancillas then ripped a single up the middle, plating Lopez to tie the game at 2-2. Anessa Quiroz then blasted a two-run inside-the-park home run over the head of the center field to put the Mustangs ahead, 4-2.
 
The Mustangs added to the lead in the bottom of the fifth when Hernandez sent a fly ball over the center fielder for an inside-the-park home run, making it a 5-2 game.
 
Vazquez hit an RBI single for the Jersey Blues in the top of the seventh to make it a 5-3 game, but that was as close as Brookdale got, as the Mustangs held on to win by two.
 
Macie Kuppenbender picked up the win in Game 1, tossing seven innings and allowing just one earned run with seven strikeouts to improve to 7-4. Jessica Pszeniczny took the loss for Brookdale to fall to 2-2.
 
Quiroz finished 1-for-3 with a two-run homer, her fifth four-bagger in the past three games. Hernandez added a homer of her own and finished 1-for-1. Mancillas went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored. Lopez went 1-for-4 with a run and an RBI as well. Kuppenbender batted 1-for-3, while Cancilla hit 1-for-2 with a run.
 
GAME 2: MONROE 10, BROOKDALE 5
Layton led off the top of the first for Brookdale with a single to left, and advanced to second when the ball was bobbled in left field. Tori Lucarelli then reached on an error by the first baseman, allowing Layton to score from second and give the Jersey Blues a quick 1-0 advantage.
 
Felicia Kuegler made it 2-0 in the top of the second with a solo inside-the-park home run to right for Brookdale.
 
The Mustangs made a quick comeback in the bottom of the second. Hernandez hit a one-out single, and then Megan Soto was hit by a pitch. A wild pitch put both runners in scoring position, and Cancilla took advantage with a two-RBI double to left, tying the game at 2-2. Lopez then singled in Cancilla to give Monroe a 3-2 lead. Marissa Vanduzer drew a walk, and then a single by Quiroz scored Lopez to leave the Mustangs on top, 4-2.
 
In the top of the fourth, a triple by Hallie Barone scored Kuegler to get the Jersey Blues back within a run.
 
The Mustangs responded quickly in the home half of the fourth. Soto hit a leadoff single, but the next two batters struck out. Vanduzer then sent a two-run inside-the-park home run to left, pushing Monroe's lead to 6-3. Quiroz made it back-to-back with yet another homer for the Mustangs' catcher, leaving the Mustangs on top, 7-3.
 
Lucarelli hit a leadoff single in the top of the fifth for the Jersey Blues. Elizabeth Dorsa then hit a one-out double to left-center to put two runners in scoring position. Alyssa Raimondo then singled to left, knocking in Lucarelli to make it a three-run game. Megan Masi then hit a sacrifice fly to right, scoring Dorsa to make it a 7-5 game.
 
The Mustangs extended the lead once again in the top of the sixth. Vanduzer drew a walk with two outs to keep the inning alive. Quiroz then reached on an error, and Mancillas followed with a single to left, where an error allowed both Vanduzer and pinch runner Alyssa Alfaro to score to make it a four-run game. Kuppenbender then singled Mancillas in from third to go up, 10-5.
 
Kuppenbender picked up her second win of the day to improve to 8-4 on the year. She went the complete seven frames, allowing four earned runs. Katy McGovern took the loss for Brookdale to fall to 4-2.
 
Quiroz went 2-for-4 with two RBIs, a run and her sixth home run of the week. Vanduzer finished 1-for-1 with two RBIs, two runs, a home run and a pair of walks. Mancillas batted 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run. Kuppenbender also went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Soto scored twice after batting 1-for-2. Cancilla knocked in two runs and scored another herself in a 1-for-3 effort that included a double. Lopez went 1-for-3 with a run and an RBI. Hernandez finished 1-for-4 with a run scored.
 
The Mustangs will look to continue their hot streak on Saturday, March 23, when they host County College of Morris at Flowers Park. First pitch of the doubleheader is set 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 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 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).