NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., March 8, 2022 – A tight matchup that became the second extra-inning contest of the season for the Monroe College Mustangs baseball team saw Monroe fall to Rockland Community College, 9-8, in 10 innings on Tuesday at Dick Caswell Field. Rockland improves to 3-2 overall with the win, while Monroe falls to 4-12.
 
The Hawks were able to scrap together a run in the top of the first to take an early lead on the Mustangs. Ben Partridge led off with a single up the middle, and then a hit-and-run worked out for the Hawks, as a line-drive by Joseph Gonzalez went right where the second baseman would have been had he not gone to cover second, turning it into a single to get two runners on for Rockland. With two outs and the runners on second and third, Brendan Tarsnane drew a walk after a long at-bat, loading the bases for the Hawks. A wild pitch then allowed Partridge to score from third, giving the Hawks a 1-0 lead.
 
The Mustangs tied things up in the bottom of the third. Kristopher Salinas led off with a single into right-center, but was then caught stealing second for the first out. Miguel Toribio then drew a walk. With two outs, Andres Castro ripped a double to deep right-center, bringing Toribio around to score from first and knot things up at a run apiece.
 
Rockland rallied back into the lead in the top of the fourth. Anthony Picone singled to lead off the inning, then moved to second on a groundout. Partridge then singled into left and moved up on the throw to put two runners into scoring position. Gonzalez brought in Picone with a groundout to second to make it a 2-1 game. James Costin then drew a walk, and then Dan Tauken singled to right, bringing in Partridge to push the lead to two. Tarsnane followed with a ground-rule double to deep center, plating one more run for the Hawks to leave them up, 4-1.
 
The Mustangs did not stay down for long, coming right back in the home half of the fourth. Nathaniel Alvarez reached on an error with one out, and then Angel De La Cruz singled up the middle on a hit-and-run to put runners on the corners. Pedro Crespo then launched a triple into the left-center gap, plating both runners to get Monroe within a run. Salinas then hit a fly ball to left that was dropped by the left fielder, allowing Crespo to score and tie the game at 4-4.
 
Rockland jumped right back on top in the top of the fifth. Paul Brothers led off with a single. With one out and a runner on second, Jaison Mock singled up the middle as well, plating a run to put the Hawks ahead, 5-4.
 
Once again, the Mustangs did not take long to get back on the board. Dante Paolucci hit a one-out single off a diving second baseman, and then Jaison Andujar drew a walk to get things going in the home half of the fifth. Nathaniel Alvarez then hit a line drive down the right-field line, bringing in Paolucci from second to tie the game at 5-5. De La Cruz hit a sacrifice fly to center to bring in Andujar and put Monroe on top, and then Crespo singled into left to bring in Alvarez and make it a 7-5 ballgame.
 
The Mustangs padded their lead in the bottom of the sixth. Salix Felix reached on an error with one out. With two down, Paolucci singled to right-center to put runners on the corners. The Mustangs then executed a double steal, with the throw down to second allowing Felix to score from third and make it an 8-5 lead for Monroe.
 
The Hawks put together a rally in the top of the seventh to tie the game back up. Chris Calvario and Brothers each singled to lead off the frame. With runners on second and third, a slow grounder to short by Partridge turned into an infield single, but the runners were moving, allowing both to score and bring Rockland within a run. Gonzalez followed with an RBI single to right to tie the game at 8-8, which eventually sent the game to extra innings.
 
In the top of the 10th inning, Tauken led off with a walk, and then moved to second on a failed pickoff attempt. Tarsnane then singled him in, putting Rockland up, 9-8, but the Mustangs were able to escape from there without any more damage.
 
Toribio led off the bottom of the 10th with a single into left, and then Felix was walked. After a pitching change for Rockland, Castro singled towards the second baseman to load the bases with nobody out. Paolucci hit a grounder to third that went home to keep the Mustangs from scoring, and then the next two batters were unable to put the ball in play with a pair of strikeouts to end the game.
 
Phillip Kurisko picked up the win in relief for Rockland to improve to 1-0 on the season. Brian Arduini picked up the save after coming on in the 10th. Grant Goodlad shouldered the loss for Monroe after yielding one unearned run in two frames.
 
Crespo hit 2-for-5 with a triple, two RBIs and a run scored in the game. Castro went 2-for-5 with a double and a run batted in. Toribio hit a double in a 2-for-4 effort, scoring a run as well. Paolucci batted 2-for-4 with a run and a stolen base. Alvarez doubled, scored twice and knocked in a run in a 1-for-5 outing. De La Cruz finished 1-for-2 with a run and an RBI. Salinas knocked in a run after going 1-for-4.
 
The Mustangs will look to avenge Tuesday's loss when they get a rematch with Rockland at the same time in the same place on Thursday, March 10. The game at Dick Caswell Field will begin at 3 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