BEL AIR, Md., May 13, 2022 – The Monroe College Mustangs baseball team battled back from a four-run deficit with six runs in the final two frames to take a late lead in Friday's East District Championship opener against No. 14 Florence-Darlington Technical College. However, the Stingers bounced back in the bottom of the ninth, scoring three runs, including a walkoff two-run homer, giving the Stingers a 7-6 victory over the Mustangs. Florence-Darlington advances into the winner's bracket to play host Harford Community College Saturday morning, while the Mustangs will now head into an elimination game against USC Sumter Saturday afternoon.
The Stingers grabbed an early lead in the bottom of the first. DJ Sullivan reached on an error to lead off the inning. Brayden Davidson then singled to center to put runners on first and third. After
Roman Dorosh struck out the next batter, he nearly got out of the inning with a chopper to short, but the ball was bobbled on the turn, allowing Sullivan to score and put the Stingers up, 1-0.
The Stingers got on the board again in the fourth. Dylan Johnson led off with a single up the middle, and then moved over to second on a wild pitch. Patrick Matthews then hit a long fly ball to center that
Miguel Toribio laid out for, nearly making the grab before the ball trickled out when he hit the ground, leading to an RBI double by Matthews to double the lead at 2-0. With one out and Matthews on third, Anderson Fulk singled into right, plating Matthews to make it a 3-0 game.
Johnson walked with two outs in the fifth for the Stingers. Matthews then doubled off the wall in left, bringing Johnson home to leave Florence-Darlington ahead, 4-0.
The Mustangs finally broke through in the top of the eighth.
Kristopher Salinas dropped a single into center to lead off the frame, and then
Nathaniel Alvarez ripped a double into the left-center gap, bringing Salinas all the way around to score and make it a 4-1 game.
Miguel Toribio followed with a single through the right side to put runners on the corners, and then
Andres Castro flew out to right, deep enough for a sacrifice fly to bring Alvarez home and bring the score to 4-2.
Jaison Andujar led off the ninth with a single to right, and then
Luis Villalba drew a walk to get two runners on.
Angel De La Cruz then got a bunt down to sacrifice both runners into scoring position. Salinas followed with a slow chopper to short, on which everyone was able to advance, bringing Andujar home to make it a one-run ballgame. Alvarez was then hit by a pitch to load the bases, and then Toribio walked to bring in the tying run. A wild pitch then allowed Salinas to score and put Monroe in the lead. With two outs and the bases loaded again,
Salix Felix walked to bring in another run and leave the Mustangs on top, 6-4.
Johnson opened the bottom of the ninth with a single to left, and then the Mustangs got an out on a fielder's choice. Tre Williams struck out looking for the second out, but Javier Crespo kept the game going with an RBI single to make it a one-run game. Scott McDonough then delivered the final blow with a two-run walkoff homer over the wall in left field, giving the Stingers a 7-6 victory.
Matt Poston picks up the win for Florence-Darlington after stopping the bleeding in the top of the ninth for the Stingers.
James Vaughn shouldered the loss for Monroe. Dorosh went five frames in the game, allowing just three earned runs with four strikeouts.
Adrian Batista pitched two scoreless innings in relief, while
Jean Ortiz tossed a clean eighth.
Alvarez had a great game at the dish, batting 3-for-3 with an RBI, a run and a pair of doubles. Salinas went 2-for-4 with and RBI and two runs, including what was at the time the go-ahead run in the ninth. Toribio hit 1-for-4 with a run, while Castro went 1-for-4 with an RBI. Andujar finished 1-for-5 with a run scored. De La Cruz batted 1-for-4 with a double.
The Mustangs now face elimination on Saturday as they enter the loser's bracket after Friday's defeat. Monroe will challenge USC Sumter in the East District Championship's first elimination game at the Harford Sports Complex on Saturday, May 14, at 1 p.m. The game will be preceded by the winner's bracket matchup between Florence-Darlington and Harford Community College, who defeated USC Sumter, 6-4, in Friday's opener. The winner of Monroe vs. USC Sumter will then face the loser of Florence-Darlington and Harford in another elimination game.
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).
