NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., April 6, 2019 – The Monroe College Mustangs softball team dropped a pair of close contests to Mercer County Community College Saturday afternoon at Flowers Park. Monroe fell, 3-1, in Game 1, and then dropped a 4-3 decision in Game 2. The Mustangs fall to 13-12 on the year, while the Vikings improve to 14-14.
 
GAME 1: MERCER COUNTY 3, MONROE 1
It took until the fifth inning for either team to get on the board, with the Vikings being the first to break through. With two runners on, Heather Clevenger hit a triple into the right-center gap, bringing in both runners to make it a 2-0 game in favor of the visitors.
 
The Vikings added a third run in the top of the seventh. With a runner on second and two outs, Paige Metz hit a high fly ball to left that was dropped by the left fielder, allowing Riley Ferrara to score and make it a 3-0 game.
 
The Mustangs looked to rally in the bottom of the seventh. Stacy Hernandez reached an on error with one away to put her on second base. Chantel Winstead then singled her in to make it a 3-1 game, but that was where the Mustangs' rally ended.
 
Clevenger got the win for the Vikings with a complete game, improving to 8-9 on the season. Macie Kuppenbender allowed two earned runs on just two hits with eight strikeouts, but took the loss to fall to 12-8.
 
Winstead finished 1-for-4 with an RBI in the game. Keira Matos and Megan Soto each batted 1-for-3.
 
GAME 2: MERCER COUNTY 4, MONROE 3
Unlike Game 1, the scoring started quickly in Saturday's finale. In the top of the first, Tori Bowen hit a one-out inside-the-park solo homer to deep left field to quickly give the Vikings a 1-0 lead.
 
The Vikings got on the board once again in the second. Madalyn Wood and Kelsie Whalen hit back-to-back singles to lead off the frame, putting runners on the corners. Paige Metz then hit a two-out single through the hole on the left side, plating Wood to make it a 2-0 game.
 
The Mustangs rallied back into the game in the bottom of the fourth. Kaylynn Lopez beat out a single to short, and then Samantha Mancillas legged out a bunt toward first. The runners stood on second and third with two outs when Hernandez dropped a single into left, bringing in both runners to tie the game at 2-2.
 
Metz singled into right to lead off the fifth for Mercer County, but the ball got past the right fielder, allowing Metz to advance to third. Bowen then singled to right to bring Metz in to score and put the Vikings back on top, 3-2.
 
It took one swing for the Mustangs to tie things up in the bottom of the sixth. Mancillas blasted a line drive into the gap in right center, long enough for her to touch them all for an inside-the-park home run, making it a 3-3 ballgame.
 
Bowen was hit by a pitch with one out in the top of the seventh. Taylor Hawkes then ripped a triple into left-center, scoring Bowen to give the Vikings a 4-3 edge.
 
Clevenger got another win in Game 2 to improve to 9-9. Kuppenbender shouldered the loss after allowing three earned runs with nine strikeouts, dropping her record to 12-9.
 
Mancillas finished 2-for-3 with a solo homer, two runs and an RBI. Soto hit 1-for-3 with a triple. Hernandez batted 1-for-2 with two RBIs. Lopez went 1-for-4 with a run.
 
The Mustangs will look to bounce back on Sunday, April 7, when they host Harford Community College for another doubleheader at Flowers Park. First pitch of Game 1 is scheduled for 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 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).