NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., April 2, 2019 – After scheduling conflicts caused Tuesday's originally scheduled away game to become a home game for the Monroe College Mustangs baseball team, the Mustangs took advantage of playing on their home turf, shutting out Nassau Community College, 8-0, in seven innings at Dick Caswell Field. The Mustangs improve to 13-18 on the season with the win, while the Lions drop to 4-9.
 
Neifi Mercedes led off the bottom of the second with a triple to right for the Mustangs. Iasid Bernal followed by dropping a double into the gap in right-center, plating Mercedes to give Monroe an early 1-0 lead.
 
The Mustangs rallied to double the lead in the bottom of the fourth. Joseph Encarnacion singled up the middle, and later moved to third on a failed pickoff attempt by the pitcher. Manrique Mora then singled him in, making it a 2-0 game.
 
The Mustangs once again doubled their lead in the home half of the fifth frame. Daniel Alfonzo led off the inning with a single, and then Freddy Rojas Jr. drew a walk. A fielder's choice by Bernal left Monroe with first and third, and then a triple by Encarnacion plated two runs to give Monroe a 4-0 edge.
 
The Mustangs doubled up their lead one more time in the bottom of the seventh, but this time it ended Tuesday's contest. The first two batters could not reach base, but the Mustangs managed to put together a two-out rally, starting with a single by Mercedes. Bernal then hit his second double of the game, putting both runners into scoring position. Encarnacion then smacked a two-RBI single into center to make it a 6-0 ballgame. After Leandy Castro drew a walk, Mora ripped a triple to left, plating both Encarnacion and Castro to end the game via run-rule with an 8-0 final score.
 
Anthony Vargas made a strong start on the hill for the Mustangs, tossing four scoreless innings with six strikeouts and just three hits to earn the win and improve to 1-1. Patrick Morrissey shut down the Lions for three innings in relief, striking out seven while allowing just one hit to earn his first save. Nick Cavallo took the loss for the Lions after giving up three earned runs in four frames.
 
Encarnacion finished 4-for-4 with a triple, a double, three RBIs and two runs scored in Tuesday's victory. Mora went 2-for-4 with a triple and three RBIs. Mercedes also went 2-for-4 with a triple and two runs scored. Bernal matched their 2-for-4 efforts with a pair of doubles, two runs and an RBI. Alfonzo was the fourth Mustang to go 2-for-4, scoring a run in the win.
 
The Mustangs return to action on Thursday, April 4, when they begin a three-game series with Region XV rival ASA College at Dick Caswell Field. The single nine-inning game will begin at 3 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).