WEST WINDSOR, N.J., March 4, 2020 – A third-inning grand slam by Daniel Alfonzo put the Monroe College Mustangs baseball team in the lead for good on Wednesday, lifting the Mustangs to a 7-4 victory at Mercer County Community College. The win boosts the Mustangs' record to 4-7 overall, while the Vikings drop to 2-3 on the young season.
 
Alfonzo came to the dish with the bases loaded and one out in the top of the third. The Mustangs' single-season home run record holder blasted his first homer of the season, a grand slam that put the Mustangs ahead of the Vikings, 4-3.
 
The Mustangs fell into an early hole by giving up three unearned runs in the bottom of the first. The second batter of the game for the Vikings reached on an error. Greg Delgado then doubled to put both runners in scoring position. A wild pitch then brought in the first run of the game. With two outs, back-to-back singles brought in a pair of runs for the Vikings to leave them up, 3-0.
 
Joshua Lopez led off the third with an infield single for the Mustangs. Jose Martinez walked with one out, and then Leivin Rodriguez also beat out an infield single to load the bases, setting up Alfonzo's grand slam in the next at bat. With two outs, Christian Hernandez reached base on an error, and then a double by Joan Sosa brought him home to leave the Mustangs on top, 5-3.
 
With two outs in the top of the fourth, Martinez slammed his first home run of the year to make it a 6-3 ballgame.
 
Lopez drew a one-out walk in the top of the sixth, and then moved to second on a groundout. Martinez then came through again with an RBI single to left, bringing in Lopez to push Monroe's lead to 7-3.
 
The Vikings got one back in the bottom of the seventh. After a passed ball put a runner on second, Jarrett May singled to center to bring in an unearned run and make it a 7-4 game.
 
Elian Oda was stellar for the Mustangs in a long-relief outing, allowing just one hit and no earned runs across seven frames to earn the win and improve to 1-0 on the season. Oda also struck out six batters in the game. Richard Vasquez got the start, going two innings without giving up an earned run. Robert Gray took the loss for the Vikings after yielding six runs (five earned) in five innings of work to fall to 0-1.
 
Alfonzo finished 2-for-4 with his grand slam in the win. Martinez batted 3-for-4 with a solo homer, two RBIs, two runs scored and two stolen bases in a terrific day for the Mustangs' leadoff hitter. Rodriguez raised his average to .485 on the season after hitting 2-for-3 with a run. Sosa went 1-for-4 with an RBI double, while Hernandez also scored a run after going 1-for-4. Lopez finished the day 1-for-3 with a run scored.
 
The Mustangs' next scheduled games were rescheduled, and they will now play on Sunday, March 8, at Harford Community College. Sunday's doubleheader will begin at 2 p.m.
 
ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE COLLEGE
The athletic program at Monroe College encompasses a total of 31 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 Mustangs (NJCAA Division I). The Monroe Express, based out of the Bronx campus, has 12 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 Mustangs), Twitter (@Monroe_Mustangs) and Instagram (@monroemustangs).