NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., March 17, 2021 – In a surprise opening day contest scheduled just 24 hours prior, the Monroe College Mustangs rolled to a 10-3 victory over Citius Prep Wednesday afternoon at Dick Caswell Field in Monroe's first game since March 10, 2020. The Mustangs start the season at 1-0 overall with the win.
 
Monroe's season got off to a shaky start, as Citius Prep's Marcus Smith sent a fly ball sailing over the fence in right field to put the visitors ahead, 1-0.
 
The Mustangs rallied back in the bottom of the third to tie up the game. Daniel Palermo opened the frame with a single into right-center, and then Joan Sosa drew a walk. A fielder's choice got Sosa at second but left runners on the corners for Monroe with one away. Anthony Fontana then managed to reach on another fielder's choice that Jared Paladino beat out at second, bringing in Palermo to tie it up at 1-1.
 
The bottom of the fifth saw the Mustangs turn the corner in Wednesday's opener. Paladino opened the inning by being hit by a pitch. He later took second and third on consecutive passed balls with one away. Pedro Mota walked and then stole second to put two runners in scoring position. It did not matter where the runners were, because Salix Felix followed up with a three-run blast to the opposite field to put the Mustangs ahead, 4-1. Joshua Lopez followed with a walk, and eventually managed to score after three wild pitches, leaving Monroe on top, 5-1.

BASE | Salix Felix goes yard for a 3-run HR to put @MC_MustangsBASE ahead, 4-1, in the 5th!#GoHereGrowHere pic.twitter.com/FYiPaktOT2

— Monroe College Mustangs (@Monroe_Mustangs) March 17, 2021

 
Citius Prep chipped away at the deficit in the top of the sixth after Mustang starter Vladimir Ceverino left the game. A walk and two hit-by-pitches loaded the bases for Citius, and a wild pitch brought in a run to cut the Mustang lead to four. An error at third then helped bring in another runner, but the Mustangs escaped after that to hang on to a 5-3 edge.
 
The Mustangs once again blew the doors off in the bottom of the sixth to begin running away with the game. Paladino hit a single to lead off the inning, then Fontana was hit by a pitch. Mota walked to load the bases, and then Felix was also hit by a pitch to bring in a run and put Monroe up by three. A passed ball brought in Fontana, and then Lopez drew a walk to once again load the bases. Christopher Martinez hit a sacrifice fly to right, scoring Mota to make it a five-run game. Another passed ball later in the inning plated Felix, and Lopez later scored on a wild pitch, giving the Mustangs a 10-3 advantage that they carried through the final out of the game.
 
Vladimir Ceverino was dominant in his first outing of the season, striking out 10 batters, while the lone hit he allowed was Smith's first inning home run. He begins the year 1-0. Colm O'Shea tossed 1.2 scoreless frames in relief, while Albert Cuello closed out the game with two shutout innings and three strikeouts. Citius Prep's Johnson Minaya gave up the lead in the fifth to shoulder the loss.
 
Felix made a big debut for the Mustangs, batting 3-for-4 with four RBIs and two runs, including his fifth-inning three run homer that proved to be the game-winner for Monroe. Paladino finished 1-for-4 with two runs, while Lopez also scored twice after drawing three walks in the win. Mota had a similar stat line to Lopez, scoring twice after drawing two walks and getting hit by a pitch. Palermo finished 1-for-2 with a run and two bases-on-balls. Despite going 0-for-3, Fontana contributed with a run and an RBI.
 
The Mustangs are set to play next on Friday, March 19, when they head out to Selden, N.Y., to take on Suffolk County Community College. First pitch of the nine-inning contest is scheduled for 3 p.m.
 
ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE COLLEGE
The athletic program at Monroe College encompasses a total of 36 teams competing across nine sports. There are 19 varsity and junior varsity programs, as well as club men's and women's rugby, the Monroe College marching band, and the newly added esports program, competing on the New Rochelle campus as the Mustangs (NJCAA Division I). The Monroe Express, based out of the Bronx campus, has 17 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 Mustangs Athletics), Twitter (@Monroe_Mustangs) and Instagram (@monroemustangs).