RANDOLPH, N.J., April 21, 2022 –
Salix Felix had a big day at the dish for the Monroe College Mustangs baseball team, totaling six RBIs to help the Mustangs to a 14-6 comeback victory in eight innings at the County College of Morris on Thursday. The win is Monroe's fifth in a row and improves the Mustangs to 16-22 overall, while Morris falls to 14-13.
With the Mustangs trailing by three in the sixth, Felix blasted a three-run homer to tie the game up. After the Mustangs took a three-run lead in the eighth, Felix added a three-RBI double to help put a stamp on the Mustangs' victory. He finished 3-for-5 with six RBIs, two runs, a double and his team-leading fourth home run of the season.
Morris jumped out to an immediate 3-0 lead on Thursday when Christian Maceda hit a three-run homer three batters into the game. It took until the fourth for the Mustangs to get on the board, beginning with an RBI double by
Andres Castro.
Jaison Andujar then brought in Castro from third with a sacrifice fly, leaving the Mustangs down by a run.
Morris got a pair back in the home half of the fourth to go back up by three runs.
Luis Villalba led off the fifth for the Mustangs with a double, moved to third on a wild pitch, and then scored on a passed ball, getting Monroe back within two. The Titans managed to bring another run across in the bottom of the fifth on a passed ball to take a 6-3 lead into the sixth.
Castro and Andujar hit back-to-back singles to kick off the sixth for Monroe. Felix then launched a three-run blast over the centerfield wall, tying the game up at 6-6.
The Mustangs then broke the game open in the top of the eighth. Villalba walked, and then
Luis Tejada sacrificed him over to second.
Kristopher Salinas then singled in Villalba to put Monroe ahead, 7-6.
Miguel Toribio followed with a single toward short, and then
Nathaniel Alvarez walked to load the bases. Castro brought in two runs with a single to center, making it a 9-6 game. Andujar walked to load the bases once again, and then Felix ripped a double to center, clearing the bases to push Monroe's lead to 12-6.
Angel De La Cruz followed with an RBI single to score Felix, and then Villalba brought De La Cruz in with a single, making it a 14-6 ballgame. After the Mustangs shut the Titans down in the bottom of the eighth, the game concluded via the run rule.
Carlos Peguero picked up the win in relief for the Mustangs, improving to 2-0 on the season. He went three innings, allowing just one hit without a run and struck out three batters. Starter
Andrelis Payampas allowed three earned runs in five frames, striking out six batters. Kristoff Behrens took the loss for the Titans to fall to 0-1.
Castro batted 3-for-4 with a double, three RBIs and three runs scored in a big game for the second baseman. Villalba hit a double as well in a 2-for-4 outing, scoring twice while knocking in another run. De La Cruz went 2-for-5 with a run and an RBI. Andujar scored a pair of runs and registered an RBI after going 1-for-3. Alvarez scored twice in a 1-for-4 effort. Salinas hit 1-for-4 with a run and an RBI. Toribio scored once in a 1-for-5 game.
The Mustangs are set for Games 2 and 3 of a seven-game weekend on Friday, April 22, when they visit Scotland Campus Prep in Scotland, Pa. Game 1 of the doubleheader is set for 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).
