WEST WINDSOR TOWNSHIP, N.J., March 23, 2022 – The Monroe College Mustangs baseball team's four-game winning streak came to a halt on Wednesday, as the Mustangs dropped an 8-7 decision to Mercer County Community College in a rainy West Windsor Township, N.J. The Mustangs fall to 8-13 overall with the loss, while the Vikings improve to 10-6.
 
The Mustangs grabbed an early lead with a first-inning rally on Wednesday. Pedro Crespo hit a one-out double, and then moved to third when Andres Castro flew out to center. Dante Paolucci's bat stayed hot after yesterday's doubleheader at Lackawanna, smacking an RBI single to bring in Crespo and get Monroe's first run across. Salix Felix kept things going with a single, and then Jaison Andujar brought in Paolucci from third with a single to center, leaving the Mustangs on top, 2-0.
 
Monroe doubled its lead in the top of the second. Kristopher Salinas was on first with one out when a pickoff attempt got past the first baseman, allowing Salinas to advance all the way to third. Miguel Toribio then brought him in on a single to center, pushing the lead to three. Crespo then slugged his second double in as many innings, plating Toribio to make it a 4-0 ballgame.
 
The Mustangs ran into some trouble in the bottom of the third. Jake Kmiec drew a walk to lead off the inning, and then Randy Steen doubled to center, bringing Kmiec all the way around to score and make it a 4-1 score. Starter Roman Dorosh then picked off Steen at second to diminish the Vikings' threat, and then got the next two batters out to escape with just one run of damage.
 
The Mustangs added to their lead in the top of the fourth. With two outs, Crespo kept a big day going with a single, and then stole second base during the next at-bat. Castro then brought him in from second with an RBI single to center, making it a 5-1 lead for the Mustangs.
 
Jarrett May led off the home half of the fourth with a solo homer to right for Mercer County to get the Vikings within three. Xavier Delgado followed with a single to center, and then he advanced to third after a failed pickoff attempt at first. Zach Zuchowski brought him in with a sacrifice fly to center, cutting the Mustangs' lead to 5-3.
 
The Vikings had runners on first and second with two outs in the fifth when May hit a fly ball to left that was dropped, allowing Kmiec to score from second and make it a 5-4 ballgame.
 
The Vikings had runners on the corners with two outs in the sixth when Steen singled up the middle, bringing in Anthony Bruno to tie the game at 5-5. The next two batters drew walks, allowing one more run to come in for the Vikings and put them ahead, 6-5.
 
The Mustangs jumped right back into the lead in the top of the seventh. Castro singled, and then Paolucci walked to get two on with nobody out. Felix then ripped a triple to deep right field, clearing the bases to put the Mustangs back ahead, 7-6.
 
Unfortunately, that lead once again did not stick for Monroe. The Vikings had a runner on third when Dan Ciotti singled him in to tie the game at 7-7. With Ciotti on third, a wild pitch allowed him to come home, putting the Vikings up for good at 8-7.
 
Jean Ortiz shouldered the loss in relief for Monroe to fall to 0-1 on the season. Collin McLaughlin picked up a win for the Vikings in relief to improve to 1-0.
 
Felix finished 2-for-5 with a triple and two RBIs in the game. Crespo batted 3-for-5 with two doubles, two runs, an RBI and a stolen base. Castro went 2-for-5 with a run, an RBI and a stolen base. Paolucci scored twice and knocked in a run after going 1-for-4. Alvarez continued to show great discipline at the plate, going 0-for-1, but walking twice and taking a hit-by-pitch. Villalba batted 1-for-4 in the game.
 
The Mustangs will look to turn things right back around on Friday, March 25, when they visit SUNY Sullivan in Loch Sheldrake, N.Y. The nine-inning contest is scheduled for 4 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