NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., March 18, 2022 – Playing in the first intercampus doubleheader of the season, the Monroe College Mustangs softball team fell in both ends of a doubleheader at Flowers Park to the Monroe College Express Friday afternoon. The Express picked up a 13-4 win in Game 1 before a 12-4 victory in Friday's finale.
 
GAME 1: Express 13, Mustangs 4 (6 INN)
The Mustangs got off to a hot start in the bottom of the first in Game 1. Zoe Rivera led off with a walk, and then Navaeh Gaynor beat out a bunt to the pitcher to get two runners on. Leiloni Pina then launched a triple over the center fielder, plating both runners to put the Mustangs on top, 2-0.
 
The Express fired back in the top of the second. With two outs, Juliana Vasquez reached on an error, and the Express took advantage. A passed ball moved Vasquez over to third, and then a single by Layla Ramos brought her in to score, cutting the deficit in half at 2-1.
 
Genesis Duarte-Suarez hit a one-out double for the Express in the top of the third. Arlenny Diaz then dropped a single to center and advanced to second on a throw to third. With two outs, Cinthia Ramirez then beat out an infield single, bringing in Duarte-Suarez to tie the game at 2-2. Vasquez then blasted a three-run homer to deep left-center, putting the Express ahead, 5-2.
 
The Express added to their lead in the top of the fourth. With Nicole Peralta on second following a single and a sacrifice bunt, Duarte-Suarez was hit by a pitch to keep the inning going. Diaz then singled to center, scoring Peralta to make it a 6-2 game.
 
Genelly Cruz led off the home half of the fourth with a double into left for the Mustangs. She moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Angelina Perez, and then scored on a perfect bunt by Mya Jack, bringing in the score to 6-3.
 
The Express took advantage of a number of Mustang miscues to take a big lead in the top of the fifth. Vasquez reached on a dropped fly ball, and then Ramos and Peralta drew back-to-back walks to load the bases. Ashleigh Stewart then reached on a throwing error by the shortstop that allowed all three baserunners to score and put Stewart on third, making it a 9-3 game. Zahra Medina then doubled to left to score Stewart and make it a seven-run lead for the Express. Duarte-Suarez then sacrificed in Medina to leave the Express up, 11-3.
 
The Mustangs needed to get on the board in the bottom of the fifth to keep the game going, and they did just that. Thanysha Gil doubled down the left-field line with one out. Camryn Brooks then dropped in a bloop single right behind first base, but was caught in a rundown trying to take second. This allowed Gil to score, bringing the score to 11-4 to keep the game going.
 
The Express rallied once again in the top of the sixth. With one out, Ramirez singled up the middle, and then Vasquez hit a single into left-center, advancing to second on a throw to third to put both runners in scoring position. A wild pitch then brought in Ramirez and moved Vasquez to third. Ramos drew a walk and was pinch run for by Ashley Peralta. Nicole Peralta followed with a single that scored Vasquez from third and made it a 13-4 lead for the Express, eventually forcing a run-rule finish after six frames
 
Layla Ramos went 5.2 frames to earn the win for the Express and improve to 3-0 on the season. Angelina Perez took the loss for the Mustangs, falling to 1-1.
 
Pina knocked in two runs in a 1-for-4 game that included a triple. Cruz and Gaynor each hit 1-for-3 with a run scored, while Cruz added a double. Til also hit a double after going 1-for-2 with a run. Rivera hit 1-for-2 with a run scored and a stolen base. Jack finished 2-for-3 with an RBI. Miralba Sandez and Brooks each batted 1-for-3.
 
GAME 2: Express 12, Mustangs 4 (6 INN)
Batting as the visitors in Game 2, the Mustangs once again got the early jump on the Express. Gaynor reached on an error with one out, and was then sacrificed to second by Pina. After stealing third, Gaynor came home on a single to right by Gil to make it a 1-0 lead for the Mustangs.
 
The Express took over in the bottom of the second. Raileni Amarante beat out an infield single with one out, then Stewart singled to center, and both runners moved up on an error by the center fielder to get into scoring position. Medina bunted in the next at-bat and beat the throw to first, but the runners could not move up on the play, loading the bases for the Express. Duarte-Suarez then singled up the middle, bringing in two runs, but seeing Medina get thrown out at third, making it a 2-1 game. Diaz then singled in Duarte-Suarez to leave the Express on top, 3-1.
 
The Mustangs rallied to tie in the top of the third frame. Gaynor led off with a single up the middle, and then Pina sacrificed her to second. Gil singled up the middle to put runners on first and third, and then stole second to get both runners in scoring position. Brooks then flew out to center, deep enough to bring in Gaynor and make it a 3-2 game. Sandez immediately followed with a single through the right side to score Gil from third and tie the game at 3-3.
 
The Express fired right back in the home half of the third. Vasquez reached on an error, and then Ramirez singled into left. Peralta doubled to right-center, scoring both runners to make it a 5-3 lead for the Express.
 
Medina beat out a bunt single to lead off the fourth for the Express. Duarte-Suarez then singled up the middle, advancing to second on the throw to get both runners into scoring position. A wild pitch then scored Medina from third, and Diaz grounded out to second to bring in Duarte-Suarez and make it a 7-3 ballgame.
 
With two outs in the top of the fifth, Gil doubled to left center to keep the inning alive. Brooks then dropped a pop up in front of the center fielder, and hustled her way to an RBI double, scoring Gil to bring the score to 7-4.
 
Amarante and Stewart each walked to open the fifth for the Express. Medina was then hit by a pitch to load the bases. Duarte-Suarez hit a grounder to third, but the throw home resulted in the catcher coming off the plate, allowing Amarante to score and make it an 8-4 game. Diaz then singled through the left side to score Stewart to make it 9-4 in favor of the Express. Calderon then drew a bases-loaded walk to bring in Medina and bring the score to 10-4. Vasquez lined out to short for the first out, but a throw back to first to try and turn a double play went high, allowing Duarte-Suarez to score and make it an 11-4 game.
 
In the bottom of the sixth, Medina hit a long fly ball to left that dropped in behind the left fielder. It was then misplayed, allowing her to take home and end the game via run-rule.
 
Hilda Sanchez took the loss for the Mustangs in relief in Game 2 to fall to 0-5 on the season. Toni Shawnee got the complete-game victory for the Express to improve to 3-1.
 
Gil finished 3-for-3 with a double, two runs and an RBI in Game 2. Brooks knocked in two runs after going 1-for-2 with a double. Sanchez doubled and finished 1-for-2. Gaynor scored twice and stole a base in a 1-for-3 outing. Sandez knocked in a run and hit 1-for-3. Jack finished 1-for-3 as well.
 
The Mustangs will look to bounce back on Sunday, March 20, when they host Harford Community College at Flowers Park. Game 1 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 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