VIRGINIA BEACH, Va., April 26, 2021 – Coming off a winning-streak ending doubleheader defeat at Lackawanna College on Saturday, the Monroe College Mustangs baseball team bounced back with a vengeance on Monday, defeating Bryant & Stratton College (Va.) by a score of 23-5 after seven innings to open a three-game series with the Bobcats. The Mustangs improve to 25-4-1 overall with the win, while the Bobcats drop to 16-18.
 
The Mustangs dominated throughout Monday's contest, but they started off slow with just one run in the top of the first. Joan Sosa was on second base with two outs when Anthony Fontana singled into left, plating Sosa for an early 1-0 edge.
 
Dante Paolucci got the second-inning rally started with a one-out single to center, following by another single to center by Daniel Palermo. With runners on second and third, John Garcia singled to left, plating both runners to make it a 3-0 game.
 
The first of many home runs took place in the top of the third, when Jose Martinez led off the inning with a solo homer to right. With two on and two out, Paolucci then blasted a three-run homer to center to leave the Mustangs ahead, 7-0.
 
The fourth inning was the dagger for the Mustangs, as they sent 14 batters to the plate in a huge inning. Nathaniel Alvarez opened the frame with a solo homer to right. With one out, Sosa and Salix Felix both singled, and then Fontana launched a three-run homer to right to make it an 11-0 game. Jared Paladino kept things going with a double, and Palermo drew a walk with two outs. Garcia then brought in Paladino on a single to left, and Alvarez followed with an RBI single of his own to take a 13-0 lead. After Martinez was hit by a pitch, Kristopher Salinas pinch hit and came through with a two-RBI single into left to push the lead to 15 runs. Felix then sent a three-run homer over the center-field fence, leaving the Mustangs on top, 18-0, after their fifth home run of the day.
 
The Mustang scoring continued in the sixth after Salinas and Felix both drew walks. Paladino hit the sixth long ball of the day for Monroe, a three-run shot to left, making it a 21-0 ballgame.
 
The Bobcats were able to put together a rally in the bottom of the sixth. They put five runs on the board to cut the deficit to 21-5.
 
That was not it for the Mustangs, though, as they got on the board once again in the top of the seventh. Joshua Lopez reached on an error with one out, and then Martinez hit a double to center. Another double by Salinas plated Lopez, and then Felix hit a sacrifice fly to center to bring in Martinez and reach the eventual final score of 23-5.
 
Not to be lost in the offensive onslaught was the terrific start by Roman Dorosh. He tossed five innings in the game, allowing no runs on just two hits with three strikeouts to improve to 6-0 on the season. Shane McCarthy got the loss for the Bobcats.
 
10 different Mustangs registered multiple hits in Monday's win, while Monroe totaled 23 hits, nine extra-base hits and six home runs. Felix hit 2-for-3 with four RBIs, four runs and his sixth homer of the season, while Fontana hit 2-for-3 with four RBIs, one run and his third long ball of the year. Paladino knocked in three runs and scored twice after hitting 2-for-3 with a double and a homer, while Paolucci went 2-for-3 with two runs, three RBIs and a home run. Martinez scored three times after hitting 3-for-5 with a double and his fifth homer of the season. Alvarez homered as part of a 3-for-4 game with two runs and two RBIs. The two-hole was hot on Monday, as Sosa finished 2-for-2 with three runs before being replaced by Salinas, who also went 2-for-2 with a double, three RBIs and two runs scored. Palermo scored twice in a 3-for-4 outing, while Garcia plated three runs and scored once himself in a 2-for-4 effort.
 
The Mustangs and Bobcats will play a doubleheader to close out their three-game series tomorrow, April 27, down in Virginia Beach. Game 1 is scheduled to begin at 2 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).