BRENHAM, Texas, February 11, 2023 – Continuing its season-opening Texas trip on Saturday, the Monroe College Mustangs softball team dropped a pair of challenging contests to Galveston College and the University of St. Thomas (TX) at Galveston. Monroe fell to the host Whitecaps, 8-2, before taking a 9-1 loss against St. Thomas.
 
GAME 1: Galveston 8, Monroe 2
The Mustangs took an early lead in Saturday's opener. Genesis Duarte-Suarez hit a one-out single to center, followed by a Cinthia Ramirez single to left. Thanysha Gil then brought in Duarte-Suarez with Monroe's third straight single to make it a quick 1-0 lead in the top of the first.
 
Unfortunately, the Whitecaps responded with four runs in the home half of the first and never looked back. They added another three runs in the third, then picked up their eighth run in the fifth.
 
The Mustangs got on the board once more in the game. In the sixth, Mya Jack smacked a double to left to lead off the frame. With two outs, Gil came through again with an RBI single to right to score Jack and make it an 8-2 game, but the rally proved to be short-lived for Monroe.
 
Gabriella Guzman improved to 4-0 for the Whitecaps with the win in the circle on Saturday. Sarah Wall falls to 0-3 on the season with the loss. Varela Cappas had a strong showing in relief with three innings of one-run ball.
 
Gil went 2-for-3 with two RBIs in the game. Jack finished 1-for-4 with a double and a run, while Duarte-Suarez hit 1-for-3 with a run scored. Ramirez hit 1-for-2 in the game.
 
GAME 2: St. Thomas 9, Monroe 1 (5 INN)
The Celts struck early and often in Saturday's second game for Monroe. St. Thomas took a quick lead with two runs in the bottom of the first. They added another in the third, and then three more in the fourth for a 6-0 lead. The Mustangs got on the board in the fifth when Ramirez hit an RBI single to right, but the Celts closed out the game with three more runs in the home half of the fifth for a run-rule 9-1 final.
 
Bailey Tisdale got the five-inning win for St. Thomas on Saturday. Layla Ramos took her first loss of the season for the Mustangs.
 
Ramirez finished 1-for-3 with an RBI in the game. Marissa Thalassinos hit 1-for-2 with a double. Jack went 1-for-3 with a run scored and two stolen bases. Paola Calderon batted 1-for-3.
 
The Mustangs take Sunday off before heading over to Alvin Community College on Monday, Feb. 13. Game 1 of the doubleheader is set for 2 p.m. EST.
 
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 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 11 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