WARWICK, R.I., April 14, 2019 – The Monroe College Mustangs baseball team claimed the second of two games at the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) Sunday afternoon. Monroe dropped a pitcher's duel, 2-1, in Game 1, but bounced back to pick up an 8-3 win in the day's finale. The Mustangs leave Sunday with a 17-19 record on the season, while CCRI moves to 15-10.
 
GAME 1: CCRI 2, MONROE 1
The Knights did all of their scoring in the bottom of the first in Game 1. A dropped fly ball put the first runner on for the home team, and a single by Nick D'Ambra put runners on first and third. David Meech hit a sacrifice fly to bring in the Knights' first run, and then Justin Brown doubled to plate another and leave the home team up, 2-0.
 
The Mustangs looked to work way their back in the top of the sixth. Iasid Bernal drew a one-out walk, and then Leandy Castro singled to get two runners on. A fielder's choice by Joe Rosselli put runners on the corners for the Mustangs with two away. Adner Mercado then hit a pinch-hit single to right, scoring Bernal to make it a 2-1 game, but that was all the Mustangs could score in the first game.
 
Elian Oda went 4.2 innings in Game 1, allowing just one earned run, but taking the loss to fall to 1-1. Zach Odsen did not allow a run in five frames for the Knights to improve to 1-1. Riley Beard earned the save after allowing one run in two innings of work in relief.
 
Mercado knocked in the only run for the Mustangs after hitting a single in his only at-bat. Rosselli went 1-for-2 in the game, while Castro hit 1-for-3. Neifi Mercedes batted 1-for-2 with a double.
 
GAME 2: MONROE 8, CCRI 3
Things got off to a better start in Game 2 for the Mustangs, as they took an early lead in the top of the second. Bernal singled to lead off the inning, and Castro followed by drawing a walk. Bernal moved to third on a wild pitch, and then came in to score on a ground out by Rosselli to make it a 1-0 game.
 
The Knights rallied right back in the bottom of the second, tying the game on an RBI ground out by James Pederson.
 
The Mustangs took their second lead of the game in the top of the third. After Freddy Rojas Jr. hit a one-out double, Daniel Alfonzo managed to bring him in with a long fly ball to center, bringing him all the way around for a sacrifice fly to go up, 2-1.
 
The Knights responded well once again in the bottom of the third. Asa Nyblom drew a bases-loaded walk to tie the game at 2-2. Another walk by Jake Frost then put the Knights on top, 3-2.
 
The first two batters for the Mustangs in the top of the fifth flew out to right. Rojas then kept the inning alive with a walk. Alfonzo followed with an RBI double to center, scoring Rojas to tie the game at 3-3.
 
Monroe rode that momentum into the top of the sixth. Bernal led off the inning with another single, then moved all the way to third on a pair of passed balls. Castro then doubled him in to make it a 4-3 game. With two outs later in the inning, Mercedes blasted a two-run homer to left to put Monroe ahead, 6-3.
 
Rojas opened the seventh with a double to center. As was the trend in Game 2, Alfonzo then knocked in Rojas, but this time bringing himself in to score as well with a two-run homer to left, leaving the Mustangs on top, 8-3.
 
Nathan Presbot picked up the win in relief for the Mustangs, allowing just one hit with eight strikeouts in 3.1 innings to improve to 2-0. John Derouin took the loss for CCRI to fall to 0-1.
 
Alfonzo finished 2-for-2 with four RBIs and a run after hitting both a home run and a double in the win. Rojas went 3-for-3 with a pair of doubles and three runs scored. Bernal batted 2-for-3 with two runs, while Castro hit 1-for-2 with a double, an RBI and a run scored. Mercedes went 1-for-3 with a two-run homer.
 
The Mustangs go right back at it on Monday, April 15, when they visit Brookdale Community College in Lincroft, N.J. for a single nine-inning game. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 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).