HOUSTON, Texas., February 20, 2022 – The Monroe College Mustangs baseball team saw its season-opening trip down south come to an end on Sunday with one final matchup at No. 3 San Jacinto College. The Mustangs shouldered an 8-6 loss to the Gators at Harrison Field.
 
The Gators put up three runs in each of the first and second innings to take an early 6-0 lead, but the Mustangs found their way back into the game in the top of the third. A pair of walks to open the frame had two runners on for Monroe. With one out, Salix Felix hit a hard grounder to third that hopped around the fielder's mitt, allowing Christian Aliberti to score from second. Shortly after, Miguel Toribio scored on a wild pitch, and then Felix was brought in on a single by Dante Paolucci, cutting the deficit in half at 6-3.
 
The Mustangs got on the board again in the top of the fourth. With two down, Angel De La Cruz singled into right to keep the inning going. Aliberti then reached on a throwing error by the shortstop, allowing De La Cruz to come all the way around to score and make it a 6-4 ballgame, but the Gators got one back in the home half of the fourth to take a 7-4 lead. In the bottom of the sixth, the Gators brought in one more run after an error and a wild pitch to go up, 8-4.
 
The Mustangs did not go down easy in the top of the ninth. Luis Tejada pinch hit and drew a walk to start the inning. Toribio then singled into left to get two runners on. With two down, Paolucci drew a walk to load the bases. Andres Castro then singled into right, bringing in two runs to cut the deficit to 8-6, but the rally ended after that, seeing the Mustangs fall by two.
 
Dillon Janac got the win for San Jacinto after a scheduled three-inning start, giving up two runs across three frames to improve to 3-0. Roman Dorosh took the loss for Monroe after giving up four earned runs in four frames, falling to 2-0. Calin Knight got the save for the Gators after getting the final out of the game.
 
Castro went 2-for-5 with two RBIs. Paolucci batted 2-for-4 with an RBI of his own. Toribio hit 1-for-4 with two runs scored. De La Cruz finished 1-for-3 with a run. Pedro Crespo turned in a 1-for-4 effort.
 
The Mustangs will return home to New Rochelle before taking another trip next weekend. They will be visiting 18th-ranked, and East District foe Florence-Darlington Technical College to play a pair of doubleheaders on Saturday, Feb. 26, and Sunday, Feb. 27, with Florence-Darlington and East Georgia State College in Florence, S.C.
 
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