MYRTLE BEACH, S.C., March 9, 2019 – The Monroe College Mustangs softball team opened the 2019 campaign at the Ripken Experience in Myrtle Beach, S.C. on Saturday. The Mustangs dropped a close matchup with Lackawanna College, 4-3, before shouldering a 5-0 defeat in the day's finale against USC Sumter.
 
GAME 1: LACKAWANNA 4, MONROE 3
Things got off to a rocky start for the Mustangs, who made three defensive miscues in the top of the first, starter Macie Kuppenbender managed to work around it, allowing just one unearned run in the inning, but the Mustangs quickly fell into a 1-0 hole.
 
An error to start the second gave the Falcons their first baserunner, who was later moved over to third after a ground out and a sacrifice bunt. With two outs, Gabrielle Vuocolo singled toward short, bringing in a run to give the Falcons a 2-0 lead in the second.
 
Vuocolo led off the top of the fifth with a single for the Falcons. She later stole second, and then scored on an error in the outfield after a single by Alexandria Thoman to give Lackawanna a 3-0 edge.
 
Abigail Cancilla walked to lead off the home half of the fifth for the Mustangs. Stacy Hernandez then dropped down a sacrifice bunt, but an error allowed her to reach base as well. Marissa Vanduzer then ripped a single into left, scoring Cancilla from second. Hernandez was then able to score on the play after the left fielder made an error, leaving the Mustangs down by just a run. Kuppenbender then reached on an error when trying to lay down a sacrifice bunt, and the miscue allowed Vanduzer to score from second and tie the game at 3-3.
 
The tie did not last long, as the Falcons were able to bring in the eventual game-winning run in the top of the sixth. Marlena Pegula led off with a pinch-hit double, and managed to come all the way around to score on a sacrifice bunt to third, putting the Falcons up, 4-3, which proved to be the final score.
 
Mia Pawelski earned the win for the Falcons to improve to 2-0 on the season. Macie Kuppenbender allowed just one earned run in seven frames, but shouldered the loss to fall to 0-1 to start the year.
 
Vanduzer went 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored in her Mustangs debut. Cancilla batted 1-for-2 with a run scored.
 
GAME 2: USC SUMTER 5, MONROE 0
All of the scoring in Saturday's finale took place in the bottom of the third inning. The Fire Ants opened the frame with back-to-back singles before Kuppenbender got the next two batters out. A walk then loaded the bases for Sumter before Kristin Wemes beat out an infield single to bring in the game's first run. Brooke Ward then singled into right, scoring two more runs to make it a 3-0 game. After another walk, Emily Holmes brought in another two runs with a single into center, leaving the Fire Ants up, 5-0.
 
Megan Phillips went the distance for the Fire Ants to pick up the win and improve to 3-1. Kuppenbender took the loss to fall to 0-2 after allowing five runs in four innings. Keira Matos made her first appearance of the season, taking over in the fifth and tossing two scoreless frames.
 
Kaylynn Lopez batted 2-for-3 for the Mustangs in Game 2. Kuppenbender went 1-for-1, while Vanduzer hit 1-for-3 in the game.
 
The Mustangs will look to bounce back tomorrow, March 10, when they play a doubleheader against USC Salkehatchie down in Myrtle Beach. Game 1 is set to begin at 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 18 varsity and junior varsity programs, as well as club men's and women's rugby, and the newly added club men's volleyball team, 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 seven 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).