NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., April 20, 2021 – The Monroe College Mustangs baseball team picked up its 11th straight victory on Tuesday with a 7-4 victory over Citius Prep at Dick Caswell Field. The Mustangs improve to 24-2-1 overall, and have not lost a game since March 25.
 
Citius Prep took an immediate lead in the top of the first. Tommy Tavarez led off the game with a solo homer over the wall in left-center to give the visitors a 1-0 lead one batter into the contest.
 
The Mustangs knotted things up in the bottom of the second. Pedro Mota drew a one-out walk, then later moved to second on a wild pitch. Nathaniel Alvarez brought him in on a two-out single up the middle to even out the score at 1-1.
 
With two outs in the top of the third, Citius Prep rallied to go back in the lead. Marcus Smith doubled into the gap in left-center, and then Matthew Puello singled into center to bring him in and make it a 2-1 game in favor of the visitors.
 
The Mustangs erased the gap quickly in the bottom of the third. Joan Sosa led off the frame with a walk, and then moved to second on a wild pitch. Salix Felix beat out an infield single to put runners on the corners, and then a wild pitch moved both runners up, allowing Sosa to score and tie the game at 2-2. A passed ball later moved Felix to third, and another on ball four to Mota brought him in to give the Mustangs a 3-2 lead.
 
The Mustangs continued to tally runs in the bottom of the fourth. Daniel Palermo was hit by a pitch to start the inning, and then John Garcia drew a walk. Alvarez then ripped a triple down the left-field line, bringing in both runners to make it a 5-2 ballgame. Monroe had the bases loaded with two outs when Jared Paladino beat out an infield single up the middle, bringing Alvarez in from third, but Sosa tried to score from second and was narrowly thrown out at the plate to end the inning with Monroe ahead, 6-2.
 
Jose Martinez walked to open the bottom of the sixth for Monroe. He stole second two batters later, and then moved to third when the throw got away. Martinez later scored on a passed ball to make it a 7-2 game.
 
Citius Prep got a couple runs back in the top of the eighth. After Smith walked, Puello hit a two-run homer over the fence in left to bring the score to 7-4.
 
Nicholas Feretic was solid in the start, allowing just two runs and six hits with three strikeouts across six frames to earn the win and improve to 4-0 on the season. Anthony Vargas came on with the bases loaded and two outs in the top of the ninth, and was able to strike out the final batter of the game to secure his first save. Johnson Minaya took the loss for Citius Prep.
 
Alvarez finished 2-for-2 with two RBIs, a run and a triple in the win. Paladino hit 1-for-4 with an RBI. Toribio scored once after going 1-for-2 with a double. Felix batted 1-for-3 with a run scored. Martinez went 1-for-4 with a run and three stolen bases in the game.
 
The Mustangs head back out to Scranton, Pa., on Saturday, April 24, to visit Lackawanna College for a doubleheader with the Falcons. Game 1 is scheduled to 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).