UNION, S.C., February 24, 2023 – The Monroe College Mustangs softball team because its second road trip of the season in grand fashion, earning its first doubleheader sweep of the year with a pair of victories at USC Union on Friday. The Mustangs defeated the Bantams in Game 1, 7-5, before picking up a 7-2 win in Friday's finale. The Mustangs improve to 4-11 with the wins, while the Bantams drop to 4-12.
 
GAME 1: Monroe 7, USC Union 5
The Mustangs got off to a great start in Game 1 on Friday. Mya Jack led of the game with a bunt single, and then Genesis Duarte-Suarez grounded out to move her up to third. Paola Calderon knocked her in with a single up the middle to give the Mustangs a quick lead. Thanysha Gil and Cinthia Ramirez both singled to load the bases, and then Marissa Thalassinos drew a walk to bring in another run. With two outs, Ashleigh Stewart stroked a double into left to plate two more, leaving the Mustangs up, 4-0, in the first.
 
The Bantams rallied with two outs in the third to cut the deficit in half. With two down and a runner on, Hannah Truett doubled to left to put both runners in scoring position. DeAnna Sweat then hit a double of her own on the next pitch, bringing in two runs to leave the Mustangs up, 4-2, after three.
 
With two outs in the bottom of the fourth, Brianna Compton kept the inning alive for the Bantams with a walk. Madison Truett then sent a home run over the fence in left, tying the game at 4-4.
 
The Mustangs bounced right back in the fifth. Gil led off with a single, and then Ava Gillen came in to pinch run for her. With one out, Thalassinos doubled to left, bringing in Gillen around to score and put the Mustangs back on top, 5-4.
 
USC Union loaded the bases in the bottom of the fifth with two outs. A wild pitch then brought in Gracie Starnes from third, tying the game up again at 5-5.
 
Angie Ordonez pinch hit to lead off the sixth for Monroe and came through with a single. Ashley Ulmschneider then returned to the game to run for Ordonez. She quickly stole second, and then a ground out by Duarte-Suarez moved her to third. Calderon then singled her in, putting Monroe back in the lead, 6-5.
 
Ramirez led off the seventh with a triple to center to give the Mustangs a good chance to add to the lead. Thalassinos then hit a sacrifice fly to center, bringing in Ramirez to give the Mustangs a 7-5 lead before closing things out in the bottom of the seventh.
 
Sarah Wall got the win for the Mustangs, striking out nine batters to improve to 3-6 on the season. Brianna Compton took the loss for USC Union in relief.
 
Thalassinos produced three RBIs and a double in a 1-for-2 effort in Game 1. Stewart plated two after hitting 1-for-3 with a double. Calderon knocked in two runs and scored once herself after hitting 2-for-4. Ramirez batted 2-for-4 with a triple and two runs scored in the win. Gil scored a run after batting 2-for-4. Jack finished 1-for-3 with a run and a stolen base.
 
GAME 2: Monroe 7, USC Union 2
The Bantams got the early jump on the Mustangs in Game 2. Madison Truett led off the bottom of the first with a walk, then moved to second on a wild pitch. Emma Chapman beat out a bunt single to put runners on the corners, and then Hannah Truett beat out another bunt single later in the inning to bring in a run and put the home team up, 1-0.
 
Thalassinos roped a triple to center with one away in the second. Juliana Vasquez then brought her in on a squeeze bunt to tie the game at 1-1.
 
Monroe then jumped ahead in the top of the third. Jack led off the frame with an inside-the-park home run, her first of the year, to put the Mustangs ahead. Duarte-Suarez then drew a walk, and Calderon singled into left. Gil then reached on an error to load the bases. With two down, another error on a pop up by Vasquez brought two runs home for Monroe, putting the visitors up, 4-1.
 
The home team got back on the board in the bottom of the fourth. Hannah Truett walked, and then Bianca Campos beat out a bunt single. Madison Goossens then singled into left, bringing Truett home to make it a 4-2 ballgame.
 
An error put Stewart on base to open the sixth for Monroe. Ulmschneider then sacrificed her over to second. Jack followed with a sacrifice bunt of her own to move Stewart to third, and then she came home on a wild pitch. Duarte-Suarez kept the inning alive with a walk, and then Calderon launched a two-run homer to left, pushing the lead to the eventual final score of 7-2.
 
Layla Ramos had a strong outing, allowing just two runs across seven innings to earn her first win of the season and improve to 1-4. Gillian Hughes took the loss for the Bantams.
 
Calderon hit 3-for-4 with a homer, a triple, two RBIs and two runs scored. Jack went 2-for-3 with her solo home run, as well as a stolen base. Thalassinos hit a triple and scored a run in a 1-for-4 outing, while Stewart also went 1-for-4 with a run. Duarte-Suarez finished 0-for-1, but managed to score twice after drawing two walks.
 
The Mustangs will cross the border and head into North Carolina tomorrow, Feb. 25, for a doubleheader hosted by Cleveland Community College in Shelby, N.C. The Mustangs start the day with a game against Spartanburg Methodist College at 12 p.m., and follow that up against host Cleveland at 2 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 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