NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., April 16, 2021 – The Monroe College Mustangs baseball team had to erase deficits on two different occasions in Friday's game against ASA College, but a huge eighth inning put the Mustangs ahead for good in a 10-5 win at Dick Caswell Field. The Mustangs improve to 19-2-1 overall with the win.
 
The Avengers took what was given to them to get on the board in the top of the third. A trio of bases-loaded walks brought in three runs to give the visitors a 3-0 advantage.
 
The Mustangs finally got on the board in the bottom of the fourth. Joan Sosa led off by being hit by a pitch. He then stole second, and later moved to third on a wild pitch. Salix Felix then brought him in on a sacrifice fly to center, making it a 3-1 score after four.
 
With two outs in the bottom of the fifth, Jose Martinez kept the inning alive with a double off the bottom of the left-field fence. John Garcia followed one pitch later with a ground-rule double to left-center, plating Martinez to bring the Mustangs within a run.
 
Leivin Rodriguez led off the sixth with a hit by pitch. He moved to second on a balk, then went to third on a passed ball. With two outs, a wild pitch allowed him to score, tying the game at 3-3.
 
The Avengers had runners on first and second when Jose Lojo laid down a sacrifice bunt in the top of the eighth. Contact at first base dislodged the ball, allowing the runners to move up again, bringing in Louis Winter from third to put the Avengers back in the lead, 4-3. Santiago Vega then singled down the third-base line, scoring Esteban Perez to make it a 5-3 game.
 
Sosa led off the bottom of the eighth with a walk, and then stole second. Rodriguez then drove him in with a line-drive into the right-center gap, good for an RBI triple to get the Mustangs back within a run. With one out, Anthony Fontana hit a grounder to first, bringing in Rodriguez to tie the game, and also reaching base when the throw from the first baseman was late to the bag. Dante Paolucci then ripped a single through the left side, plating Fontana from third to put the Mustangs ahead, 6-5. After Jose Martinez walked to load the bases, a wild pitch brought in the pinch-running Miguel Toribio to push Monroe's lead to 7-5. Another wild pitch brought in Paolucci, and then an errant throw from the catcher let Martinez score as well, extending the lead to 9-5. Another wild pitch with the bases loaded and two outs brought in Richard Vasquez to make it a 10-5 score.
 
Colm O'Shea tossed five innings in relief, allowing no earned runs with five strikeouts to earn the win and improve to 2-0. ASA reliever Jesus Baez allowed seven runs in the eighth to take the loss.
 
Paolucci went 1-for-3 with a run and what proved to be the game-winning RBI on Friday. Martinez scored twice after hitting 1-for-3 with a double. Garcia knocked in a run in a 1-for-3 effort that included a double. Rodriguez and Sosa both hit 1-for-3 with two runs scored, while Rodriguez added an RBI.
 
The Mustangs and Avengers are back at it tomorrow, April 17, for a doubleheader at Dick Caswell Field. First pitch is set for 12 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).