NEWTON, N.J., April 8, 2019 – The Monroe College Mustangs JV baseball team fell twice at Sussex County Community College Sunday afternoon. The Mustangs move to 4-12 on the season with the pair of defeats, while the Skylanders improve to 13-13.
 
GAME 1: SUSSEX COUNTY 15, MONROE 5
The Mustangs got on the board first in Sunday's opener when Carlos Aranda hit a solo homer in the top of the first to make it a 1-0 game. The Skylanders then took control in the bottom of the inning, plating seven runs to take an early six-run lead. They added another three runs in the bottom of the second to go up, 10-1.
 
The Mustangs added a pair in the top of the third. Jason DeJesus and Eddy Vicioso both hit RBI singles in the inning, cutting the deficit to 10-3. Sussex County got one back in the home half of the third to go back up by eight.
 
The Skylanders put up two more runs in the bottom of the fifth to take a 13-3 lead. Jonas Marte knocked in a run for Monroe in the top of the sixth on a fielder's choice, and Javier Ortiz later hit an RBI single to make it a 13-5 game. The Skylanders picked up another two runs in the sixth to reach the final score of 15-5.
 
Gustavo Souza earned the win for Sussex County to improve to 2-2 on the year. Jason Paulino shouldered the loss for the Mustangs to drop to 0-1.
 
Vicioso had a nice game for the Mustangs, going 3-for-3 with a run and an RBI. Aranda finished 1-for-3 with a solo homer. Keanu Paulino scored a run after going 1-for-3 with a double.
 
GAME 2: SUSSEX COUNTY 9, MONROE 3
Aranda once again gave Monroe an early lead in the top of the first. With Ortiz on third, Aranda brought him in with a suicide squeeze to give Monroe a 1-0 lead. The Skylanders then tied the game on a fielder's choice by Nick Grifone in the bottom of the inning.
 
Chris Navarro led off the third with a double into left for the Mustangs. Aranda was later hit by a pitch, but a double steal attempt resulted in Navarro being thrown out at third. Adrian Rosario then homered to left, putting the Mustangs on top, 3-1.
 
The Skylanders then swung things in their direction, scoring eight runs in the bottom of the fourth to go up, 9-3, which proved to be the final score.
 
Anthony Melillo picked up the win for the Skylanders to improve to 1-0. Marcos Rodriguez took the loss for Monroe to drop to 0-3.
 
Rosario batted 1-for-3 with his two-run homer in Game 2. Ortiz finished 1-for-3 with a double and a run. Navarro also went 1-for-3 with a double.
 
The Mustangs are back in action Monday evening at Dick Caswell Field for their final home game of the 2019 season. They will host SUNY Ulster at Flowers Park at 7 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).