NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., April 1, 2021 – In one of the most stellar pitching days in recent memory for the Monroe College Mustangs baseball team, Jason Diaz tossed a Game 1 no-hitter with a ridiculous 16 strikeouts, while Nicholas Feretic allowed just two hits with nine strikeouts in the day's finale, leading the Mustangs to a pair of shutout victories over ASA College Thursday afternoon at Dick Caswell Field. Monroe won the opener, 7-0, before picking up a 6-0 win to close out the day. The Mustangs improve to 12-2 on the season with the wins.
 
Diaz was the story in Game 1. Though he did allow baserunners, he was unhittable throughout the contest, proven by his magnificent 16 strikeouts in the win. Feretic followed that performance giving up just two hits, walking just one batter and striking out nine batters in another dominant outing.
 
GAME 1: Monroe 7, ASA 0
The Mustangs managed to escape a bases-loaded, nobody out situation in the top of the first, and then took the lead in their first at-bat. Joan Sosa and Leivin Rodriguez both walked to start the first for Monroe. Anthony Fontana moved them up with a ground out to first, and then Jose Martinez hit a two-out single into the hole on the left side to bring in Sosa and give the Mustangs an early 1-0 edge.
 
Monroe was able to double its lead in the bottom of the fourth frame. John Garcia drew a one-out walk, then stole second during the next at-bat. Sosa then dropped a triple just inside the right-field line, scoring Garcia to make it a 2-0 game.
 
Anthony Fontana led off the fifth with a single into right-center, and then Salix Felix and Dante Paolucci drew walks to load the bases. Jared Paladino was then hit by a pitch, bringing in Fontana to push the lead to three. With the bases still loaded, Miguel Toribio dropped a hit into left that took a bad hop past the left fielder, allowing all three runs to score on a bases-clearing double to give the Mustangs a 6-0 edge.
 
Fontana and Martinez both walked in the sixth to get two runners on. Paolucci then singled into right field, bringing in Fontana to expand the Mustang lead to 7-0.
 
Diaz did not allow a single hit across the complete seven innings in the win to improve to 1-1 on the year. He worked himself out of trouble despite eight walks in the game. Baez took the loss for ASA after giving up six runs in 4.2 frames.
 
Toribio finished 2-for-3 with three RBIs and a double in the win. Sosa hit 1-for-3 with an RBI, a run and a triple. Fontana scored twice after hitting 1-for-3. Paolucci knocked in a run and scored one himself in a 1-for-3 effort.
 
GAME 2: Monroe 6, ASA 0
Game 2 was a pitcher's duel until the Mustangs got to the Avengers' bullpen in the sixth frame. Christopher Martinez and Pedro Mota both walked, and were pinch run for by Sosa and Toribio, respectively. A wild pitch moved both into scoring position, and then Richard Vasquez ripped a single past the first baseman to bring in Sosa and put the Mustangs up, 1-0. Nathaniel Alvarez then roped a triple to deep right, plating Toribio and Vasquez to make it a 3-0 game.
 
Paolucci then came in to pinch hit and reached on a dropped pop up by the shortstop, allowing Alvarez to come home and push the lead to four. Kristopher Salinas reached on a dropped third strike and then stole second. A wild pitch on ball four to Martinez allowed Paolucci to score, and then a double steal with runners on first and third brought in Salinas to make it a 6-0 ballgame.
 
Feretic's strong start improved his record to 2-0 on the season. In addition to just two hits allowed, he only walked one batter in the win. Polo was strong for the Avengers, allowing just one hit in five innings with 11 strikeouts, but he did not factor into the decision. Fernandez took the loss after coming in in the sixth inning and allowing four runs without recording an out.
 
Vasquez hit 1-for-3 with a run and what proved to be the game-winning RBI in the win. Alvarez delivered the biggest blow with his two-RBI triple in a 1-for-3 outing. Martinez picked up Monroe's other hit in the win.
 
The Mustangs do not get long to rest after Thursday's battles, as they head back out to Selden, N.Y., to take on Suffolk County Community College for the fourth matchup between the two New York teams this season so far. First pitch is slated 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).