SHELBY, N.C., February 25, 2023 – The Monroe College Mustangs softball team continued its Carolina trip in Shelby, N.C., taking on Spartanburg Methodist College and Cleveland Community College at Cleveland. The Mustangs lost a close opener to Spartanburg Methodist, 7-6, before bouncing back with a 10-5 victory over Cleveland.
 
GAME 1: Spartanburg Methodist 7, Monroe 6
The Mustangs played as the home team in Game 1 and got things going quickly in the bottom of the first. With two outs, Paola Calderon tripled to center, and an error in the outfield allowed her to come home, putting the Mustangs ahead, 1-0.
 
Monroe then doubled the lead in the bottom of the second. Cinthia Ramirez led off with a triple to right, and then Marissa Thalassinos hit a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Ramirez to make it a 2-0 game.
 
Things got tough for the Mustangs in the top of the fourth. The Pioneers put six runs on the board with four hits and two errors, taking a 6-2 edge on Monroe. Spartanburg Methodist later brought another run across in the top of the sixth to go up, 7-2.
 
The Mustangs did not give up while trailing by five in the bottom of the seventh. Mya Jack beat out an infield single with one out, and then an error on a grounder by Genesis Duarte-Suarez brought her around to score. Calderon hit another triple to score Duarte-Suarez and make it a 7-4 game. Thanysha Gil followed with an RBI double to make it a two-run game. Gil later scored from third with two outs on a wild pitch to get the Mustangs within run, but they were unable to bring in the tying run, falling to the Pioneers, 7-6.
 
Samantha Carver picked up the win for the Pioneers to improve to 2-3 on the year. Sarah Wall took a hard-luck loss after giving up just one earned run across seven frames with six strikeouts.
 
Calderon hit two triples, scored twice and knocked in a run in a 2-for-4 outing. Gil hit 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored, while Ramirez finished 2-for-4 as well with a run and a triple. Jack and Duarte-Suarez both hit 1-for-4 with a run scored. Ashleigh Stewart went 1-for-3, while Ashley Ulmschneider and Angie Ordonez each went 1-for-1.
 
GAME 2: Monroe 10, Cleveland 5
After two scoreless frames, the Mustangs put together a big rally in the third. Jack led off with a walk, and then an error on a bunt by Duarte-Suarez got two runners on for the Mustangs. Calderon singled on a bunt that loaded the bases. With one out, Ramirez hit a two-RBI single to center to put the Mustangs up, 2-0. Zoe Rivera lined out to the pitcher, but an errant throw back to third allowed Gil to score for a three-run lead. Angie Ordonez then singled in Ramirez to go up by four. After she moved up on a wild pitch, Juliana Vasquez took advantage with a single to center, bringing in Ordonez to leave the Mustangs up, 5-0.
 
The Yetis were able to get on the board as well in the third. With two outs, Brianna Frye reached on an error that brought in two runs to cut Monroe's lead to 5-2.
 
Jack led off the fourth with another walk, and then Duarte-Suarez drew a base-on-balls as well. After a pitching change, Calderon brought in Jack with a single to left, stretching the lead to 6-2.
 
The Yetis responded with a run of their own in the home half of the fourth. Kadence Hopper doubled with one out, and then Dalesha Linebarger singled to get two runners on. Carmen Pruett then grounded out to first, but it was enough to bring in Hopper to make it a 6-3 game.
 
Vasquez led off the fifth with a single, but was then forced out at second on fielder's choice off the bat of Stewart. Jack beat out an infield single, and then Duarte-Suarez singled to left, scoring Stewart to make it a 7-3 game, but Jack was thrown out trying to advance to third. Calderon then tripled in Duarte-Suarez to leave Monroe up, 8-3.
 
The Yetis had the bases loaded with two outs in the fifth. Hopper was then hit by a pitch to bring in a run. A wild pitch then allowed Mallory Haynes to score and cut the Mustangs' lead to three.
 
The Mustangs added some insurance in the top of the seventh. The Mustangs loaded the bases with one away when Calderon singled into right, plating two more runs to hit the eventual final score of 10-5.
 
Layla Ramos tossed 4.2 innings to earn the win in the game. Sarah Wall took over in the fifth and picked up her first save of the year, going 2.1 hitless frames with three strikeouts. Kaylen Cales took the loss for the Yetis.
 
Calderon had another strong outing, hitting 4-for-5 with four RBIs, a run scored and a stolen base in the win. Duarte-Suarez hit 3-for-3 with two runs, an RBI and a stolen base. Ramirez finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a run. Vasquez went 2-for-2 with an RBI. Jack scored twice after going 1-for-3 with two walks and a stolen base. Stewart scored twice in a 1-for-4 outing. Ordonez knocked in a run and scored another in a 1-for-3 effort.
 
The Mustangs wrap up their weekend in the Carolinas on Sunday, Feb. 26, when they visit Gaston College in Dallas, N.C. The doubleheader is set to begin at 1 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