SELDEN, N.Y., March 27, 2021 – Despite trailing for much of the day, the Monroe College Mustangs baseball team showed its resilience on Saturday, picking up a pair of comeback victories Saturday afternoon at Suffolk County Community College. The Mustangs scored nine runs in the final two frames for a 12-5 victory in Game 1, and picked up four runs in their final two at-bats in Game 2 to win, 6-3. Monroe heads back home with a 10-2 overall record, while the Sharks drop to 2-5.
 
GAME 1: Monroe 12, Suffolk 5
The Mustangs took the first lead of the game in the top of the second. Dante Paolucci singled with one out and then stole second to get into score position. Daniel Palermo then doubled him in to put Monroe ahead, 1-0.
 
Suffolk then put together a big really in the bottom of the second. With the bases loaded, Nick LoMonaco reached on a fielder's choice, bringing in a run to tie the game. Anthony Amato then doubled to plate two more runs to put the home team ahead by two. He later moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on a sacrifice fly by Chad Pike to leave Suffolk up, 4-1.
 
The Mustangs pushed back in their next at-bat. Joan Sosa led off with a walk, then Leivin Rodriguez singled to center. Salix Felix reached on a fielder's choice, but an error allowed Sosa to score and bring Monroe within two. Anthony Fontana then doubled to right to bring in Felix and get the Mustangs back within a run.
 
The game was quiet until the bottom of the fifth when Alec Maag doubled in a run to make it a two-run game once again.
 
The tables turned with a big Mustang rally in the top of the sixth. Paolucci led off with a double, and then Palermo drew a walk. After both runners moved up, Jose Martinez hit a two-RBI single to center to tie the game at 5-5. Sosa singled to get two runners on, then Rodriguez singled in Martinez to give the Mustangs the lead. Felix later hit a two-RBI double to push the lead to three, and then Fontana ripped a double to right to bring in Felix and leave Monroe up, 9-5.
 
Palermo doubled to kick off the seventh for Monroe, then John Garcia took a base-on-balls. Martinez then slammed his first home run of the season, bringing in three runs to give the Mustangs a 12-5 lead that lasted through the final out of the game.
 
Anthony Vargas picked up the win in relief for the Mustangs to improve to 2-0 on the year. He allowed just one run in five innings while striking out seven. Ray Hoffman took the loss in relief for Suffolk after yielding four runs, including the go-ahead runs in the sixth.
 
Rodriguez went 4-for-5 with a stolen base, a run and an RBI in the win. Fontana finished 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles and a pair of RBIs. Palermo also doubled twice, knocking in a run and scoring two times in a 2-for-3 effort. Martinez made his first appearance of the season, going 2-for-4 with five RBIs, two runs and a homer. Paolucci batted 3-for-4 with two runs scored, a double and a pair of stolen bases.
 
GAME 2: Monroe 6, Suffolk 3
Monroe got the early jump on the Sharks again in Saturday's second game. Rodriguez hit a one-out single to center, and then Fontana doubled him in for a quick 1-0 edge in the top of the first. Felix followed with a single, and then a ground out by Paolucci brought in Fontana to leave the Mustangs ahead, 2-0.
 
Jake Giannico led off the first with a double for the Sharks, moving to third on a passed ball during the next at-bat. Amato then reached on an error, allowing Giannico to score and cut the deficit in half.
 
LoMonaco was hit by a pitch with one out in the bottom of the second, and was later doubled in by Giannico to tie the game. Amato then hit an RBI single to give Suffolk a 3-2 advantage after two.
 
The next three innings did not see any runs score, but the Mustangs ended the cold streak in the top of the sixth. Garcia walked to open the frame, then the pinch-hitting Miguel Toribio singled to right. Sosa executed a sacrifice bunt to put both runners in scoring position, and Rodriguez took advantage with a two-RBI single into left to give the Mustangs a 4-3 lead. Fontana singled to put runners on the corners, and then Felix reached on a fielder's choice that allowed Rodriguez to score and make it a 5-3 game.
 
Martinez reached on an error to lead off the seventh, leaving him standing on third. Jared Paladino brought him in with a single to left to reach the eventual final score of 6-3.
 
Adrian Batista picked up the win with three scoreless and hitless innings in relief, striking out four batters in the process to improve to 1-0. Louis LaRocco took the loss for Suffolk after allowing five runs in six frames.
 
Rodriguez stayed hot in this one, going 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs. Fontana did as well, hitting 2-for-4 with an RBI, a run and a double. Felix hit 1-for-3 with an RBI, and Garcia went 1-for-3 with a double and a run.
 
The Mustangs will take a break from their road trip and play a home doubleheader against ASA College on Thursday, April 1, at Dick Caswell Field. First pitch of Game 1 is scheduled for 3:30 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).