GARDEN CITY, N.Y., April 9, 2021 – Starting pitcher Anthony Vargas was nearly untouchable and got plenty of support on Friday, as the Monroe College Mustangs baseball team rolled to a 10-0, run-rule victory at Nassau Community College. The Mustangs improve to 14-2-1 on the year with the win, while the Lions fall to 2-1.
 
Vargas went the complete seven innings before the game ended via the run-rule, striking out 12 batters while allowing just two hits to earn his third victory of the season. Nassau's Ryan Whitaker took his first loss after yielding four runs in three frames.
 
The Mustangs got a quick jump on the Lions with a first-inning rally. Leivin Rodriguez hit a one-out double to center, then Salix Felix hit a double of his own to bring him in and make it a 1-0 game. Two batters later, Jared Paladino hit the third double of the inning, scoring Felix to leave Monroe up, 2-0.
 
The Mustangs did it again in the top of the fourth. Paladino hit another double with one away, and then Dante Paolucci tripled to center to bring him in and put the Mustangs up by three. Anthony Fontana followed with a double to make it a 4-0 ballgame.
 
The lead was padded in the top of the sixth when Daniel Palermo hit a two-run homer to center to make it a six-run lead for the visitors. After a double by Joan Sosa, Felix tripled to left to bring him in and give Monroe a seven-run advantage.
 
The Mustangs had two one with nobody out in the top of the seventh when Fontana hit another double to center, plating two runs to push the lead to nine. After Fontana stole third, John Garcia brought him in with a sacrifice fly, making Monroe's lead, 10-0, forcing the run-rule finish after a 1-2-3 bottom of the seventh.
 
Fontana knocked in three runs after hitting 2-for-4 with two doubles and a run scored in the win. Paladino batted 3-for-4 with two runs, an RBI and two more doubles. Rodriguez continued his scorching hot start to the season with a 2-for-5 outing that included a two-batter and a run scored. Felix finished 2-for-4 with a run, two RBIs, a double and a triple. Palermo went 1-for-3 with hit two-run homer.
 
The Mustangs are back at it tomorrow, April 10, when they visit Orange County Community College in Middletown, N.Y. The doubleheader is set 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).