NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., April 17, 2021 – Everything clicked for the Monroe College Mustangs baseball team in Saturday's doubleheader against ASA Brooklyn, as they rolled to a pair of dominant victories over the Avengers at Dick Caswell Field. The Mustangs picked up an 11-1, run-rule win in Game 1, before rolling to a 6-1 victory to close out the day. The Mustangs improve to 21-2-1 overall after Saturday's sweep.
 
Game 1: Monroe 11, ASA 1 (5 INN)
The Mustangs had a huge first inning in Game 1, putting up a 10-spot on the Avengers right off the bat. Joan Sosa led off the bottom of the first with a double to left, and then stole third during the next at-bat. Leivin Rodriguez drew a walk, and then a passed ball moved both runners up, bringing in Sosa for the first run of the day. Salix Felix followed with an RBI single to make it 2-0. Felix stole third, and then Jared Paladino walked. A balk then brought in Felix for Monroe's third run. Dante Paolucci then ripped a triple to right, bringing in Paladino. Jose Martinez drew a walk, and then Joshua Lopez singled up the middle to score Paolucci for a 5-0 lead.
 
Miguel Toribio kept things rolling with a walk, getting Monroe back to the top of its lineup. Sosa hit a sacrifice fly to right, scoring Martinez to make it 6-0. After Rodriguez drew another walk, Felix delivered the big blow, launching a grand slam to center to leave the Mustangs on top, 10-0.
 
The Avengers got one back in the top of the second. With runners on second and third, an errant throw to third on a pickoff attempt allowed a run to score and make it a 10-1 game.
 
The Mustangs got back on the board in the bottom of the third. Toribio walked to lead off the frame, and then came around to score after Sosa and Rodriguez hit back-to-back singles, pushing Monroe's lead back to 10, eventually resulting in a run-rule finish after five innings.
 
Vladimir Ceverino was stellar in a complete-game victory in Game 1. He allowed no earned runs on just two hits with nine strikeouts to improve to 3-0 on the season. Reyes took the loss for ASA after yielding 11 runs in four frames.
 
Felix finished with five RBIs after going 2-for-3 with a grand slam in Game 1. He also scored twice. Sosa went 2-for-2 out of the leadoff spot with a run scored, an RBI and a double. Rodriguez batted 1-for-1 with an RBI, two runs and two walks. Paolucci went 1-for-3 with a triple, an RBI and a run scored. Lopez finished 1-for-2 with a run and an RBI.
 
Game 2: Monroe 6, ASA 1
The Mustangs once again took an early lead and carried it the rest of the way in Game 2 on Saturday. Felix struck again with his second home run of the day in the bottom of the first, a two-run shot that gave the Mustangs a quick 2-0 advantage.
 
ASA got their only run of the game in the top of the second after the Mustangs elected to take the out at second on a double steal with runners on first and third.
 
Monroe had two runners on for Pedro Mota in the bottom of the third, who brought in Rodriguez with a single into right field to make it a 3-1 game. Later in the inning, the Mustangs loaded the bases for Daniel Palermo, who drew a walk to score Monroe's fourth run. One more run came in when John Garcia was hit by a pitch in the next plate appearance, leaving the Mustangs up, 5-1.
 
The Mustangs added one more run for insurance in the bottom of the sixth frame. Nathaniel Alvarez roped a triple to right with one out, and then Sosa brought him in on a sacrifice fly to right to make it a 6-1 ballgame.
 
Olvis Genao had an excellent game on the hill for the Mustangs in Saturday's finale. He helped preserve the Mustang bullpen by going the complete seven frames, allowing just one run and five hits while striking out seven batters to improve to 2-0. Correa took the loss for ASA after going all six innings and giving up six runs.
 
Felix went 2-for-4 again in Game 2, scoring twice and knocking in two more runs with his first inning homer, the fifth of the season for the Mustangs' third baseman. Mota knocked in a run and scored another after hitting 2-for-3. Sosa batted 1-for-2 with an RBI and a run. Alvarez hit a triple in a 1-for-3 effort, also scoring a run.
 
The Mustangs and Avengers will play twice more on Sunday, April 18, at Dick Caswell Field. The doubleheader is set to once again begin at 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).