BEL AIR, Md., April 11, 2022 – The Monroe College Mustangs softball team split 15 runs across two contests on Monday at Harford Community College, but was not enough to overcome a strong offensive day by the home team, as the Mustangs dropped both games to the Fighting Owls down in Maryland. The Fighting Owls rallied in their last at-bat in Game 1 to win, 9-8, before a big early lead helped Harford defeat the Mustangs, 12-7, in Game 2.
 
GAME 1: Harford 9, Monroe 8
The Mustangs grabbed an early lead with a rally in the top of the second. Leiloni Pina reached on an error, and then Zoe Rivera drew a walk to start the frame. Both runners then moved up on a wild pitch to get into scoring position. After the next two batters struck out, Genelly Cruz doubled to left, plating both runners to give Monroe a 2-0 edge. Mya Jack then singled on a bunt, and an error by the third baseman on the play allowed Cruz to score, leaving the Mustangs on top, 3-0.
 
In the bottom of the third, the Fighting Owls had two runners on for Emily Curry, who blasted a three-run homer to left, tying the game up at 3-3.
 
The Mustangs managed to jump back into the lead in the top of the fourth. Cruz singled with one away, and then advanced all the way to third after stealing second and the thrown down getting away. Navaeh Gaynor then singled Cruz in from third to make it a 4-3 ballgame.
 
The lead did not last for long, though, as Harford's Jess Bouthet hit a two-run homer over the fence in left in the home half of the fourth to put the home team ahead, 5-4. An error and a single had two runners on again for the Fighting Owls, and then an error on a double-steal attempt allowed a run to score and make it a 6-4 game. Lena Wondolowski then singled to right-center, plating Curry from second to put Harford up by three.
 
The Mustangs bounced right back in the top of the fifth. Thanysha Gil walked, and then an error on a grounder by Pina put runners on second and third for the Mustangs. Zoe Rivera pulled off a suicide squeeze to bring Gil home and move Pina to third, making it a two-run game. Camryn Brooks then blasted a two-run homer to left, tying the game up at 7-7.
 
With two outs in the top of the seventh, Alyssa Alfaro singled into left to keep the inning going. Cruz took advantage, stroking a double to right to plate Alfaro and put the Mustangs on top, 8-7, in the final frame.
 
Unfortunately, the Mustangs were unable to close it out in the bottom of the seventh. With two outs, Bouthet came through again for Harford, hitting her second homer of the game to center field to tie things up at 8-8. Kaitlyn Delaney kept it going with a single up the middle, and then Curry singled into left. Wondolowski then provided the game-winner, a walkoff single to right that scored Delaney to end the game with Harford on top, 9-8.
 
Mackenzie Burton got the win for Harford with four earned runs across seven frames to improve to 7-3 on the season. Asia Gonzalez took the loss for Monroe to drop to 2-5.
 
Cruz hit 4-for-4 with three RBIs, two runs scored and a pair of doubles in Game 1. Brooks hit 1-for-4 with a two-run homer. Gil doubled in a 1-for-3 effort, scoring a run in the game. Gaynor went 2-for-3 with an RBI. Alfaro scored a run in a 1-for-4 outing, while Jack also batted 1-for-4.
 
GAME 2: Harford 12, Monroe 7
The Fighting Owls carried the momentum from Game 1 into Monday's finale, rallying for eight runs across the first three innings for a big lead. But the Mustangs did not let the game get away from them, rallying back into contention in the top of the fourth. Jack reached on an error to lead off the frame, and Gaynor singled to put runners on the corners. Gil drew a walk to load the bases without an out, and then Pina singled into left, scoring Jack to get Monroe's first run on the board. Brooks then singled into right-center, plating Gaynor and Gil to make it an 8-3 game. Cruz kept her big day going with an RBI single up the middle, scoring Pina to cut the deficit in half. With two outs, Jack once again reached on an error that brought Brooks home, making it an 8-5 ballgame.
 
Unfortunately, the Fighting Owls responded well in the home half of the fourth. With two out, Bouthet did it once again, hitting her fourth homer of the day, pushing the lead to 11-5. Two batters later, Curry hit her second home run of the afternoon, leaving Harford ahead, 12-5.
 
That was all the scoring for the Fighting Owls in the game, but the Mustangs put runs on the board one more time in the top of the seventh. Jack led off with an infield single, and then moved to second on a groundout by Gaynor. Gil followed with a double to right-center, scoring Jack to bring the score to 12-6. Two batters later, Brooks brought Gil in to score on an RBI single, making it a 12-7 game, but the Mustangs' day ended with the next batter.
 
Alyssa McLaughlin got the win for Harford to improve to 6-4 on the season. Shania Thomas took the loss for Monroe to drop to 0-1.
 
Brooks hit 2-for-4 with three RBIs and a run scored to cap off a strong day for the sophomore first baseman. Pina hit 3-for-4 in Game 2 with a run, an RBI and a double. Gil went 1-for-3 with a double, two runs and an RBI. Cruz knocked in a run in a 1-for-3 outing. Jack scored twice after hitting 1-for-4, and Gaynor scored once in a 1-for-4 game. Nickoya Lindo batted 1-for-3.
 
The Mustangs are on the road once again on Thursday, April 14, when they visit Lackawanna College in Scranton, Pa. The doubleheader is set to begin at 3:30 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