NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., April 14, 2021 – Stellar pitching performances all around and plenty of clutch hitting led the Monroe College Mustangs baseball team to a doubleheader sweep of Bergen Community College Wednesday afternoon at Dick Caswell Field. The Mustangs won Game 1, 4-2, before shutting out the Bulldogs, 7-0, in Game 2. The Mustangs improve to 18-2-1 on the year with the wins, while the Bulldogs drop to 1-3.
 
Game 1: Monroe 4, Bergen 2
The Bulldogs caught a break to get an early leg up on the Mustangs in Game 1. With runners on first and second with two outs in the top of the first, back-to-back passed balls allowed a run to score, leaving the visitors ahead, 1-0.
 
The Mustangs were able to jump into the lead in the bottom of the second. With one out, Jared Paladino and Dante Paolucci both singled, leaving runners on second and third after Paolucci was able to advance on the play. With two down, John Garcia brought in both runners with a single to right-center, putting Monroe on top, 2-1.
 
The Mustangs had runners on second and third in the bottom of the third when Anthony Fontana grounded out to short, but it was enough to bring in Joan Sosa from third to push the lead to 3-1.
 
Paolucci led off the home half of the fourth with a double to left. Garcia then came through once again with a double of his own down the right-field line, scoring Paolucci to make it a 4-1 game.
 
The Bulldogs caught another break in the top of the fifth to score their second, and final, run of the game. With a runner on third, a balk brought him in, bringing the score to 4-2.
 
Jason Diaz picked up his second straight win, tossing four innings without allowing a run and just one hit while striking out 10 batters to improve to 2-1 on the year. Vladimir Ceverino picked up the save with a dominant seventh frame, allowing no baserunners with two strikeouts. Joe Miceli took the loss for Bergen after giving up two runs in two innings to fall to 1-1.
 
Garcia finished 2-for-2 with three RBIs and a double in the Game-1 victory. Paolucci hit 2-for-3 with a double and two runs scored. Paladino also went 2-for-3 with a run. Salix Felix added a 1-for-3 effort as well.
 
Game 2: Monroe 7, Bergen 0
It took a while, but the Mustangs got on the board first in Game 2. In the bottom of the fourth, Paolucci drew a walk with one out. He later stole second, and then an RBI single through the left side by Daniel Palermo brought him in from second to put the Mustangs on top, 1-0. After a single by Richard Vasquez put runners on the corners, a wild pitch allowed Palermo to score and make it a 2-0 game. Leivin Rodriguez then singled in Vasquez to expand the lead to three. The rally continued when Felix dropped a single into right, plating Rodriguez from second to make it a 4-0 ballgame. Anthony Fontana followed with a single into left, and then Jared Paladino ripped a double down the third-base line, scoring both runners to give the Mustangs a 6-0 advantage.
 
The Mustangs got one run across in the bottom of the sixth. With two outs, Fontana doubled down the right-field line, and then Paladino singled him in to extend the lead to 7-0 for Monroe.
 
Nicholas Feretic went six scoreless frames in Game 2, striking out 12 batters with just two hits allowed to earn his third win of the season. Jonathan Toribio took the loss in relief for the Bulldogs to fall to 0-1.
 
Paladino knocked in three runs in a 3-for-4 effort in Wednesday's finale, adding a double in the strong outing. Fontana went 2-for-3 with a double and two runs scored. Felix also hit 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI. Rodriguez and Palermo each went 1-for-3 with a run and an RBI.
 
The Mustangs are back at it this weekend with a five-game series against ASA Brooklyn, beginning Friday, April 16, at Dick Caswell Field. Friday will be a single nine-inning game beginning at 4 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).