DALLAS, N.C., February 26, 2023 –
Zoe Rivera's timely grand slam was the difference in a Game 1 victory for the Monroe College Mustangs softball team. The Mustangs won the opener at Gaston College on Sunday, 7-4, with
Sarah Wall striking out 13 batters, before the Rhinos took Game 2, 8-0, to split the doubleheader.
GAME 1: Monroe 7, Gaston 4
Gaston looked to have a leg up on the Mustangs in Sunday's opener after tallying four runs in the bottom of the second to take a big lead. The Mustangs looked to chip away at the deficit in the next inning, but ended up doing more than just getting closer.
Genesis Duarte-Suarez reached on an error to open the third for Monroe, and then
Paola Calderon drew a walk.
Cinthia Ramirez had runners on second and third when she beat out a grounder toward the pitcher to load the bases.
Marissa Thalassinos then drew a walk to bring Monroe's first run of the game home. Rivera then delivered the decisive blow for the game, launched a high fly ball just off the end of the left fielder's outstretched mitt and over the fence for a grand slam, leaving the Mustangs ahead, 5-4.
The Mustangs added to the lead in the fourth.
Mya Jack led off with a walk, and then proceeded to steal second. Duarte-Suarez then beat out a grounder to short, but an errant throw allowed Jack to come around and score, pushing the lead to 6-4.
Monroe did it again in the sixth. Jack bunted for a single with one away, and then stole second again with two down.
Juliana Vasquez took advantage with an RBI single up the gut, plating Jack to reach a 7-4 score.
Sarah Wall went the complete seven innings, striking out a season-high 13 batters in the process. Her 13 strikeouts are the most by a Mustangs pitcher since the program moved up to Division I in 2016, and the most since Brooke Anderson twice threw 15 strikeouts back in 2014. Gaston's Amiya Tomlinson took the loss after allowing seven runs (six earned) in 5.2 frames.
Rivera finished 1-for-4 with what proved to be the game-winning grand slam in Game 1. Duarte-Suarez hit 2-for-4 with a run scored. Jack batted 1-for-2 with two runs, two walks and three stolen bases.
Cinthia Ramirez went 1-for-3 with a run. Subbing into the game in the fourth, Vasquez finished 1-for-2 with an RBI.
GAME 2: Gaston 8, Monroe 0 (6 INN)
The comeback never came in Game 2 on Sunday after the Rhinos took a big lead early in the game. A two-RBI double by Brantleigh Parrott in the first had the Rhinos in the lead early. Logan Lilly later knocked her in with a single to leave the home team up, 3-0, after one.
Parrott contributed again in the second with an RBI single to make it a four-run game. She was later brought home on a single by Serena Yalich to push the lead to five.
Yalich game through again for the home team in the fourth, plating Gabrielle Porterfield with a double to make it a 6-0 game. Porterfield later walked it off for the Rhinos with a two-RBI double in the sixth, forcing the game to end via the run rule, 8-0.
Parrott also earned the win for the Rhinos in Game 2 with six shutout frames to improve to 6-0.
Layla Ramos took the loss for the Mustangs in Game 2 with four earned runs allowed across 5.1 frames.
Thanysha Gil hit 1-for-2 in Game 2. Duarte-Suarez finished 1-for-3. Thalassinos pinch hit in the game and picked up a single in her lone at-bat.
The Mustangs take next weekend off before playing their first weekend at home beginning on Saturday, March 11. They will host Orange County Community College at the Flowers Park Softball Field with a doubleheader beginning at 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 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).
