WARWICK, R.I., March 31, 2019 – The Monroe College Mustangs softball team took to the road once again on Saturday, sweeping a doubleheader at the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI). The Mustangs held on for a 7-6 victory in Game 1 before running away with a 10-3 win in Saturday's finale. The Mustangs leave Rhode Island with a 13-10 overall record, while the Knights drop to 2-4.
 
GAME 1: MONROE 7, CCRI 6
After a scoreless first inning, the Mustangs put together a big second inning to take a lead that they held throughout the remainder of the game. Marissa Vanduzer was on second when Keira Matos reached on an error to third, scoring Vanduzer to make it a 1-0 game. With runners on second and third, Kaylynn Lopez doubled to left, scoring Matos and Chantel Winstead to boost the lead to three runs. Samantha Mancillas later reached on another error that scored Lopez to leave the Mustangs up, 4-0.
 
The Knights got a run back on the Mustangs in the bottom of the third, but Monroe quickly improved upon its lead in the fourth. Lopez reached on yet another CCRI error to lead off the frame, and then Anessa Quiroz drew a walk. With runners on second and third after a double steal, a wild pitch scored Lopez from third to make it a 5-1 game. Mancillas then hit a sacrifice fly to right, scoring the pinch-running Alyssa Alfaro to put the Mustangs ahead, 6-1.
 
Vanduzer got things started again for the Mustangs in the fifth with a leadoff double to center. Yanessi Jusino then got on base on an error that brought in Vanduzer from second to give the Mustangs a 7-1 advantage.
 
CCRI chipped away in the sixth, scoring two runs on an error and an RBI double Madison McDonald to leave the Mustangs up, 7-3.
 
The Mustangs ran into trouble in the bottom of the seventh. Back-to-back doubles brought in a run and made it a three-score game. After a strikeout, a third double for the Knights brought the home team back within a run. With two outs later in the inning, Hannah Northup tripled to right to bring in another run and make it just a one-run game at 7-6, but Macie Kuppenbender managed to get the next batter to pop out to first and end the game.
 
Kuppenbender picked up the win for the Mustangs after allowing just one run and two hits across 4.2 innings, striking out 10 in the process to improve to 11-7. Hannah Caliri allowed six runs (one earned) in four innings to take the loss for CCRI.
 
Lopez knocked in two runs and scored two more in a 1-for-3 effort that included a double in Game 1. Vanduzer went 2-for-4 with two runs and a double of her own. Winstead finished 2-for-5 with a run and a stolen base. Matos batted 1-for-3 with a run scored as well.
 
GAME 2: MONROE 10, CCRI 3
The Mustangs got off to another strong start in Game 2 with some heads-up base running in the top of the first. With Lopez and Winstead on second and third, Quiroz grounded out to second, but both runners still managed to score on the play, leaving the Mustangs with a quick 2-0 lead.
 
The lead did not last for long, as the Knights managed to rally for a pair of runs in their first at-bat of Game 2, bringing the game back to a stalemate at 2-2 after the first inning.
 
Monroe turned the momentum right back in its direction in the top of the second. Abigail Cancilla drew a one-out walk, and then Vanduzer ripped a triple to right, scoring Cancilla to make it a 3-2 lead for the Mustangs. Keira Matos then laid down a bunt, and the throw home to get Vanduzer was not in time, putting the Mustangs up, 4-2. Winstead attempted to sacrifice Matos over to second, but the fielder decided to throw to second instead, where Matos beat the throw to get two runners on base. Lopez made the Knights pay for the mistake, doubled to left to bring in both runners and make it a 6-2 ballgame. Quiroz then doubled to deep center, plating Lopez to leave Monroe up, 7-2.
 
The Mustangs then finished up their scoring with a few more runs in the top of the fourth. With the bases loaded, Mancillas hit a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Winstead to take an 8-2 lead. Kuppenbender then hit a bases-clearing triple to right, bringing Lopez and Quiroz home to push the Mustang lead to 10-2.
 
CCRI managed to bring in a run in the bottom of the fifth, but the home team could not muster up another run in a strong performance by the Mustangs.
 
Kuppenbender went the complete seven innings in Game 2, allowing just three runs with nine strikeouts to improve to 12-7 on the season. Dayna Jackvony went all seven for the Knights, allowing 10 runs to take the loss.
 
Lopez batted 3-for-4 with three runs, two RBIs and a double in the Game 2 victory. Quiroz finished 2-for-3 with three RBIs, two runs and a double. Vanduzer went 1-for-3 with a triple, a run and an RBI. Kuppenbender batted 1-for-4 with a two-RBI triple. Winstead scored three times after going 1-for-3. Winstead and Lopez each stole a pair of bases in the win.
 
Sunday's doubleheader at Suffolk County Community College has been postponed due to expected inclement weather. Therefore, the Mustangs will play next on Saturday, April 6, when they host Mercer County Community College at Flowers Park. The doubleheader is set to begin at 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 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).