WEST WINDSOR TOWNSHIP, N.J., April 16, 2019 – Despite a pair of home runs by Joseph Encarnacion, the Monroe College Mustangs baseball team dropped a 12-6 decision at Mercer County Community College Tuesday afternoon. The Mustangs fall to 18-20 overall with the loss, while the Vikings improve to 24-11.
 
The Vikings struck first in Tuesday's contest with a run in the bottom of the first. A pair of singles and a walk had the bases loaded for Mercer County with Devon Jeffreys stepping to the plate. Jeffreys managed to draw a walk after reaching a full count, bringing in the Vikings' first run of the day for an early 1-0 lead.
 
Joseph Encarnacion led off the top of the second with a double to center. He then moved to third on a failed pickoff by the pitcher. Leandy Castro was then able to knock him in on a ground out to short, tying the game at 1-1.
 
Mercer County had two outs in the bottom of the second when Nick Mancuso was hit by a pitch. Mark Saponara then singled to right, and an error put both runners in scoring position. Domenic Boselli then singled into left, bringing Mancuso in to score and make it a 2-1 game, but Saponara was then thrown out at the plate to end the inning.
 
The Mustangs tied the game up with one swing in the top of the fourth. With one out, Encarnacion launched a solo homer over the left-field fence, knotting things up at 2-2.
 
A pair of singles to right, followed by a walk, loaded the bases for the Vikings again in the bottom of the fourth. A balk then brought in Chris Cote to give the home team a 3-2 edge.  After a walk by Saponara loaded the bases once again, Boselli doubled to left, scoring two more runs to make it a 5-2 ballgame. Collin Sheehan then hit a sacrifice fly to right, pushing the Vikings' sixth run across to give them a four-run advantage. Aaron McLaughlin then hit a fly ball to left that was dropped, allowing Boselli to score and put the Vikings up by five.
 
Some small-ball helped the Mustangs bring in another run in the top of the fifth. With one out, Gustavo Gonzalez and Freddy Rojas Jr. both drew walks. Daniel Alfonzo then flew out to center, allowing Gonzalez to advance to third. The Mustangs then feigned a double steal that allowed Gonzalez to score from third while Rojas was thrown out on his path to second base, making it a 7-3 game.
 
The bottom of the fifth looked much like the fourth for the Vikings. They used five hits, including a run of four RBI hits in a row, to bring in five runs and take a 12-3 lead through five.
 
The Mustangs got a run back in the top of the seventh when Alfonzo hit an RBI single with runners on first and third, bringing in Joe Rosselli to score Monroe's fourth run.
 
Encarnacion hit his second home run of the game, a solo shot to left, in the top of the eighth to bring the score to 12-5. Later in the frame, Neifi Mercedes beat out an infield single with the bases loaded to score Castro and make it a 12-6 game.
 
Mercer County started Dave Stec earned the win with five innings of work to improve to 3-1. Rigo Tapia took the loss in relief for Monroe to fall to 0-1.
 
Encarnacion went 3-for-4 with two homers, a double, two RBIs and three runs scored in the game. Alfonzo batted 2-for-5 with an RBI. Rosselli finished 1-for-2 with a run scored.
 
The Mustangs will look to bounce back on Friday, April 19, when they kick off a two-day, four-game series at Pitt Community College in Winterville, N.C. Game 1 of Friday's doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.
 
ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE COLLEGE
The athletic program at Monroe College encompasses a total of 30 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 11 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).