NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., March 29, 2019 – In a first-time ever matchup between the two programs, the Monroe College Mustangs JV baseball team got the best of the Monroe Express JV baseball team Thursday afternoon at Dick Caswell Field, as the Mustangs defeated their Bronx-campus counterparts, 9-4. The Mustangs improve to 3-8 overall with the win, while the Express fall to 0-3.
 
Javier Ortiz reached on an error to lead off the bottom of the first for the Mustangs. He took advantage by then stealing second and third. Chayanne Carty then brought him in with a sacrifice fly to center, giving the Mustangs a quick 1-0 lead.
 
The Express then managed to take a lead in the top of the second. Key Jimenez led off with a walk, and then Jasson Medina singled to put runners on first and third. Medina then went to steal second, and the throw went wide, allowing him to move to third and bringing home Jimenez to tie the game. Later, Yony De Leon reached on a fielder's choice that plated Medina from third to give the Express a 2-1 edge.
 
The Mustangs loaded the bases with nobody out in the bottom of the third. Jordy Batista then singled into right, scoring Kevin Hernandez and Carty to put the Mustangs on top, 3-2. After a Kevin Paulino walk loaded the bases again, Chris Navarro drew yet another walk, scoring Carlos Aranda to make it a 4-2 game. Two batters later, Adrian Rosario grounded out to short, but it was enough to score Batista from third and give the Mustangs a 5-2 advantage.
 
After a few quiet innings, the Mustangs got back on track in the bottom of the sixth. Ortiz led off with a triple to right-center, and then Hernandez grounded out to second, bringing Ortiz home to give the Mustangs a four-run lead. With two outs, Aranda beat out a grounder to short, and then stole second to get into scoring position. Batista then singled into center to score Amanda and make it a 7-2 ballgame. Eddy Vicioso followed with an RBI double to left to take an 8-2 lead. Jaylen Kelley then reached on an error by the shortstop, scoring Vicioso to leave the Mustangs up, 9-2.
 
Albert De Los Santos hit a one-out single to left for the Express, and then stole second base. He stole third two batters later, and was then singled in by Alberto Taveras to make it a 9-3 game in the seventh.
 
Daniel Coradin was hit by a pitch to lead off the eighth for the Express. Jimenez then reached on an error that put runners on the corners. Jimenez then stole second, and an errant throw allowed Coradin to score from third and bring the score to 9-4.
 
Manielvic Diplan picked up the win for the Mustangs after taking over in the second and tossing 7.1 innings in relief. He allowed just one earned run and four hits while striking out eight batters to improve to 2-1. Leon took the loss for the Express to fall to 0-1.
 
Batista finished 2-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored in the win. Ortiz scored twice in a 1-for-4 effort that included a triple. Vicioso went 1-for-2 with an RBI double and a run scored. Aranda batted 2-for-2 with a double and two runs scored.
 
The Mustangs will get back to work on Sunday, March 31, when they visit Westchester Community College in Valhalla, N.Y. for another doubleheader with the Vikings. First pitch of Game 1 is set for 12 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).