NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., March 21, 2021 – The Monroe College Mustangs softball team dropped a pair of contests against Suffolk County Community College Sunday afternoon at Flowers Park. The Mustangs fall to 0-4 to start the year, while the Sharks improved to 3-3.
 
GAME 1: Suffolk 16, Monroe 8 (6 INN)
The Sharks got off to a quick start in Sunday's opener. After the Mustangs got the first two batters out in the inning, Kayleigh Olsen kept the inning alive by dropping a single into short center. Daja Farmer then roped a triple into the right-center gap to bring in the first run. Antinina Yarusso then lifted a long fly ball over the left fielder, allowing her to touch them all for a two-run homer to leave the Sharks up, 3-0, after a half inning.
 
It did not take long for the Mustangs to strike back in the bottom of the first. Angelina Perez was hit by a pitch with one out, then Brianna Nunez drew a walk to put two runners on. With two outs, Sullyanne Rodriguez ripped a two-RBI single up the middle to get Monroe within a run. Camryn Brooks then roped a long line drive down the left-field line for an inside-the-park two run homer that put the Mustangs on top, 4-3.
 
The Sharks got right back in the lead in the top of the second after getting two on with one away. Jaden Thompson singled to center to bring in a run and tie the game. Daja Farmer hit a fly ball with the bases loaded that was dropped in left, bringing in another run for the Sharks to give them the lead. A walk then brought in one more run, leaving Suffolk ahead, 6-4.
 
The back-and-forth continued in the home half of the second. With two outs, Brenda Rodriguez kept the inning alive with a triple to right. Perez was once again hit by a pitch, and then Nunez launched a homer to left, bringing in three runs to put the Mustangs back in the lead, 7-6.
 
Jenna Argento hit a one-out single to get things started for the Sharks in the third. Ashley Mathes then tripled to left-center to plate Argento and tie the game. Thompson then homer to right, putting the Sharks back ahead, 9-7.
 
The Sharks broke the game open in the top of the fourth, Gabriella Vacchio singled to lead off the frame, then moved to second on a throwing error. She was sacrificed over to third, and then brought in on a ground ball to make it 10-7. Mathes hit a two-out single to keep the inning going, then moved to third on a pair of wild pitches. Thompson knocked her in with a single to left, and was then brought in on a triple by Kayleigh Olsen to make it a 12-7 game. Farmer capped off the inning with a two-run homer to leave the visitors up, 14-7.
 
Brenda Rodriguez chipped away at the lead with an inside-the-park home run to left, getting the Mustangs back within six in the bottom of the fourth.
 
The Sharks had runners on second and third in the top of the sixth when a wild pitch allowed Mathes to score and make it a seven-run game. Another wild pitch brought in Thompson to leave the Sharks up by the eventual final score of 16-8.
 
Gianna Postiglione got the win for the Sharks after six innings of work and eight runs. Naidely Cabrera falls to 0-2 on the young season with the loss.
 
Nunez finished 2-for-3 with a homer, three RBIs and two runs scored in Sunday's opener. Brenda Rodriguez hit 2-for-4 with a home run, a triple, two runs and an RBI. Sullyanne Rodriguez batted 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a run. Brooks went 1-for-3 with a two-run homer.
 
GAME 2: Suffolk 15, Monroe 1 (5 INN)
The Mustangs got the early edge in Sunday's finale. Brenda Rodriguez reached on an error to lead off the bottom of the first and moved all the way to third after a wild pitch. Sullyanne Rodriguez drew a walk, and then the Mustangs executed a double steal to bring in Brenda Rodriguez from third for the 1-0 advantage.
 
After the first, the Sharks managed to score in chunks in each of the next four innings, eventually scoring 15 runs to end the game after five frames.
 
Samantha Butler got the win for the Sharks after tossing five frames and allowing one unearned run in Game 2. Angelina Perez suffered her second loss for the Mustangs.
 
Brenda Rodriguez and Sullyanne Rodriguez both stole bases in the game, with Brenda Rodriguez also scoring a run. Katherine Garcia hit 1-for-2 in the game.
 
The Mustangs are scheduled to play next on Sunday, March 28, when they host Nassau Community College at Flowers Park for a 1 p.m. doubleheader. The schedule is subject to changed, so please check MonroeCollegeMustangs.com throughout the week for updates.
 
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).