HAGERSTOWN, Md., May 7, 2021 – The recent offensive hot streak and a brilliant complete-game performance by starter Olvis Genao lifted the third-seeded Monroe College Mustangs baseball team to a dominant 16-3 victory over No. 2 seed, and host, Hagerstown Community College in the opening round of the Region 20 Championship Tournament on Friday. The Mustangs improve to 31-5-1 overall on the season and enter the winner's bracket with the win, while Hagerstown drops to 40-11 and is now one loss away from elimination.
 
With a pitcher's duel in full-swing, the Mustangs' second hit of the game was a big one. In the top of the fifth, Dante Paolucci led off with a solo homer to right-center, putting the Mustangs on top of the Hawks, 1-0. Joshua Lopez and John Garcia both walked after Paolucci's home run, and then Daniel Palermo reached on an error by the pitcher, allowing Lopez to score and make it a 2-0 game. Joan Sosa then singled into left, plating both runners to push Monroe's lead to 4-0. Anthony Fontana then drew a walk, which forced the Hawks to change pitchers. That was no worry to Jared Paladino, who singled up the middle to plate Sosa from second and make it a 5-0 Mustang lead. Paolucci and Lopez drew another two walks, leading to another run coming in and making it a 6-0 score. Just before the final out, a wild pitch brought Paladino in to score, leaving the Mustangs up, 7-0, after a huge fifth frame.
 
With two outs in the sixth, Sosa singled into right-center to keep the inning going. Salix Felix then singled to center, and Sosa flew around the bases to score all the way from first and make it an 8-0 game.
 
The Mustangs ran into some trouble in the bottom of the sixth. A couple doubles and an RBI single for the Hawks put three runs on the board to leave the home team trailing, 8-3, after six frames.
 
The Mustangs took advantage of some miscues by the Hawks in the seventh. Paladino reached on an error, and another on a pickoff attempt put him on second. Paolucci then singled him in, bringing the lead back to six at 9-3.
 
The Mustangs loaded the bases with nobody out in the top of the ninth. Miguel Toribio came on to pinch hit, which turned out to be the right decision, as he singled to right to score Paolucci and make it a 10-3 advantage for Monroe. Jose Martinez then drew a walk to score Monroe's 11th run of the day. Sosa reached on a fielder's choice, but an error on the play allowed two more runs to score to make it 13-3. Felix then singled in Sosa from third to make it a 14-3 ballgame. Fontana then blasted a two-run homer, making it a 16-3 game with Monroe's seventh run of the inning.
 
Outside of the bottom of the sixth, Genao was terrific in Friday's tournament opener, going the complete nine frames with 11 strikeouts to pick up the win. He allowed just three runs and four total hits on the day. Hagerstown starter Ryan Delorbe, a Bronx native, took his first loss of the season after giving up six runs (three earned) in 4.2 frames.
 
Sosa finished 2-for-5 with four RBIs and three runs scored in the win. Paolucci batted 3-for-5 with a homer, a double, two RBIs and two runs scored. Felix went 2-for-5 with two RBIs and a run. Fontana made his one hit count with a two-run homer in the win, finishing 1-for-4 with a pair of runs as well. Lopez drew four walks and scored twice in the game. Palermo batted 1-for-3 with a run, while Paladino finished 1-for-6 with an RBI and two runs scored.
 
Now moving on in the winner's bracket, the Mustangs will next play in Game 4 of the tournament, taking on No. 4 Harford Community College after its 12-7 victory Friday afternoon over No. 1 WVU Potomac State College. Monroe and Harford are set to play at 3 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).