NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., April 19, 2022 – Everything went right for the Monroe College Mustangs baseball team on Tuesday, as the Mustangs defeated NJCAA Div. III No. 1 Rowan College South Jersey-Gloucester (RCSJ Gloucester) by a score of 9-1 in seven innings at Dick Caswell Field. The Mustangs improve to 15-22 overall with their fourth straight win, while the Roadrunners fall to 28-5 and see a seven-game winning streak come to an end.
 
Monroe got going right off the bat in Tuesday's matchup. Miguel Toribio led off the bottom of the first with a single, and then Angel De La Cruz was hit by a pitch. Andres Castro then roped a triple into the gap in left-center, bringing in both runners to put the Mustangs up, 2-0. Castro then came home on a wild pitch, leaving Monroe ahead, 3-0.
 
The Roadrunners ended Monroe's shutout in the top of the fifth. After AJ Tropiano and Chris Biolsi were both hit by pitches, Eric Sabato hit into a fielder's choice that left runners on first and third. Felix Diaz then singled through the hole between third and short, bringing in Tropiano to make it a 3-1 game.
 
The first three batters of the bottom of the fifth all drew walks for the Mustangs. A wild pitch then brought in Toribio, pushing the lead to 4-1. Jaison Andujar then hit a chopper to the pitcher who went home with it, but threw it in the dirt, allowing De La Cruz to score and make it a 5-1 game. Salix Felix followed with a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Castro to put Monroe up, 6-1.
 
The Mustangs were then able to wrap things up in the bottom of the seventh. Castro singled with one out, and then Andujar drew a walk. Felix then launched a ground-rule double to left-center to bring in Castro to go up by six. With the potential walk-off run now standing on second base, Nathaniel Alvarez came through with a two-RBI single into left, bringing Andujar and Felix home to walk it off with a 9-1 victory via the run rule.
 
A bullpen day was successful for the Mustangs, as the arsenal of James Vaughn, Adrian Batista, Albert Bobadilla and Claudio Rodriguez combined to allow just one run on three hits with nine strikeouts across seven frames to help Monroe to victory. Vaughn earned the win after going three innings with six strikeouts and just one hit allowed in the start, earning his first win in the Royal and Gold. Krystian Henry took the loss for Gloucester after allowing three runs in an inning-plus, falling to 0-1.
 
Castro finished 2-for-3 with a triple, three runs and two RBIs in the win on Tuesday. Alvarez batted 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs. Felix knocked in two runs and scored once after hitting 1-for-3 with a ground-rule double. Toribio scored twice in a 1-for-3 effort.
 
Monroe will look to keep rolling into a busy rest of the week, which begins on Thursday, April 21, on the road at County College of Morris. First pitch of the nine-inning contest is set for 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