ALVIN, Texas., February 15, 2022 – Playing its first of five games in Texas this week, the Monroe College Mustangs dropped a 7-4 decision to Alvin Community College on Tuesday at Phillips Field. The Mustangs fall to 1-4 overall on the early season, while the Dolphins improve to 4-6.
 
The Mustangs managed to take an early lead in the top of the second in Tuesday afternoon's matchup. Jaison Andujar, playing against his former team, drew a walk with one away. He stole second with two down, and moved to third when the throw got away. A wild pitch then brought in Andujar to put the Mustangs up by a run. Angel De La Cruz stood on second after walking and moving up on the same wild pitch, and then came in to score on a single into right by Daniel Palermo, leaving the Mustangs ahead, 2-0.
 
The top of the third also proved prosperous for the Mustangs. Dante Paolucci kept the inning going with a two-out walk, and then Andres Castro hit a slow grounder up the middle that he was going to beat out, so the shortstop turned toward third trying to get Paolucci advancing, but Paolucci slid in safely to put runners on the corners. Andujar then ripped a single into right, plating Paolucci to put the Mustangs up, 3-0.
 
The Dolphins rallied their way into the lead in the bottom of the fifth frame. With one out, Matt Brimacombe doubled off the wall in left. Bryce Hughes then singled to right to put runners on the corners. Kyte McDonald brought in Alvin's first run with a sacrifice fly to center, making it a 3-1 game. River Orsak then singled into the hole on the left side to keep things going and put runners on first and third once again. Daniel Burroway then doubled down the left-field line to bring in two runners and tie the game at three. Grant Pfaff followed with a single that just got past the diving second baseman, bringing in one more run for the Dolphins to put them on top, 4-3.
 
Castro was hit by a pitch, and then Andujar drew a walk to get two runners on for the Mustangs in the sixth. Christian Aliberti dropped down a sacrifice bunt to move both runners into scoring position. The plan worked, as a single into left by De La Cruz brought in Castro to tie the game back up at 4-4.
 
An error with one away in the bottom of the sixth put Ethan Munoz on base for the Dolphins. With two down in the inning, Hughes hit a triple to right, plating Munoz to give Alvin the lead once again at 5-4.
 
The Mustangs had the Dolphins down to two outs in the bottom of the eighth after a strike-'em-out, throw-'em-out double play. Hughes kept the inning alive with a single to left, and then McDonald homered over the wall in left to make it a 7-4 ballgame.
 
Albert Bobadilla shouldered the loss in relief after yielding one unearned run across two frames, falling to 0-1 on the season. Sebastian Soliz picked up the win in relief for Alvin to improve to 1-1. Jojo Villareal picked up his first save without throwing a pitch, as he came in with two outs in the ninth and picked off a runner for the final out of the game.
 
Paolucci and Castro each hit 2-for-4 with a run scored in the game, while Castro also stole a base. Andujar finished 1-for-2 with an RBI, a run and a stolen base. De La Cruz also went 1-for-2 with two stolen bases, a run scored and an RBI. Palermo batted 2-for-4 with an RBI.
 
The Mustangs get a big early-season test this weekend, as their Texas trip continues at No. 3-ranked San Jacinto College in Houston. The four-game series begins on Friday, Feb. 18, with first pitch set for 7 p.m. EST.
 
ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE COLLEGE
The athletic program at Monroe College encompasses a total of 35 teams competing across nine sports. There are 21 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 and men's volleyball programs, competing on the New Rochelle campus as the Mustangs (NJCAA Division I). The Monroe Express, based out of the Bronx campus, has 14 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). Read Full Article