NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., March 12, 2023 – The first meeting of 2023 of a longtime northeast baseball rivalry did not disappoint on Sunday, as the Monroe College Mustangs baseball team hosted Harford Community College for a doubleheader at Dick Caswell Field. The Mustangs came away with two hard-fought, one-run victories over the Fighting Owls, picking up decisions of 2-1 and 3-2, respectively. The Mustangs run their win streak to six games and even their record at 9-9 with the wins, while the Fighting Owls fall to 9-8 overall.
 
GAME 1: Monroe 2, Harford 1
Fans were treated to a pitcher's duel in Game 1, but nevertheless, the Mustangs managed to grab an early lead in Sunday's opener. Diego Urreta drew a one-out walk in the bottom of the first, and then Ronald Almanzar singled up the middle to get two runners on. Jeremy De La Mota then singled into center, plating Urreta from second to give the Mustangs a quick 1-0 advantage.
 
An error put Dylan Perry on second base to open the second inning for Harford. Randy Carlo then grounded out, advancing Perry to third in the process. Peter Maldonado then grounded out to second, deep enough to bring Perry home from third to tie the game at 1-1.
 
It was not until the fifth that the Mustangs were able to jump back into the lead. Urreta got things going again with a one-out single. Almanzar then drew a walk to get two runners on for De La Mota. De La Mota came through once again with another single up the gut, plating Urreta to make it a 2-1 ballgame.
 
The Mustangs nearly added to the lead in the bottom of the sixth when they loaded the bases with one out, but they were stymied by the Fighting Owls, taking a one-run advantage into the seventh and final frame. Harford opened the seventh with back-to-back singles, and a one-out walk by Joey Pagano loaded the bases for the Fighting Owls. Reliever Sammuel Herrera then escaped trouble when Robert Buckley hit a grounder to Urreta at second, allowing him to flip it to Gilbert Gomez at second base, who then fired over to Almanzar at first for a clutch game-ending double play.
 
Monroe starter Andrelis Payamps was brilliant in Game 1, allowing just one hit and one unearned run with eight strikeouts across five innings to earn his second win of the year. Herrera tossed the final two frames and secured a one-run edge for Monroe to pick up his first save. Quinn Holt took the loss for the Fighting Owls despite a strong five-inning effort, dropping him to 1-2.
 
De La Mota got it done twice for the Mustangs in Game 1, going 2-for-4 and knocking in both of Monroe's runs in the win. Urreta scored on both of those hits, finishing 1-for-2 in the game with a pair of walks. Pedro Crespo tripled in a 2-for-3 effort. Almanzar went 1-for-3.
 
GAME 2: Monroe 3, Harford 2
Game 2 saw another set of terrific pitching performances on both sides, but it also saw some more late-game dramatics go the way of the Mustangs. Monroe got on the scoreboard first again, this time doing so in the bottom of the third. Almanzar drew a walk and then managed to steal second with two outs. Jordy Batista kept the inning alive with a walk, and then Matthew Franco beat out a single to shortstop, seeing the first baseman throw the ball away to allow Almanzar to score and give Monroe a 1-0 lead.
 
The Mustangs ran into trouble in the top of the fifth. With two outs, Pagano was hit by a pitch to keep things going for the Fighting Owls. Buckley then made them pay, blasting a two-run homer to right to put the visitors in the lead, 2-1.
 
The Mustangs had their chance to turn the game right back around in the bottom of the fifth, loading the bases with a walk and two singles without an out. However, the Fighting Owls managed to find a way out of the inning without any damage, hanging on to a 2-1 advantage heading to the sixth.
 
In the home half of the sixth, Urreta drew a walk with one out, then moved to second on a groundout by Almanzar. De La Mota then did it again, singling into right field to bring Urreta home and tie the game at 2-2. Batista nearly gave the Mustangs the lead with a long line drive down the right-field line, but the ball snuck under the fence for a ground-rule double, forcing De La Mota back to third, but leaving the Mustangs with two runners in scoring position with two outs. The Mustangs then caught a break when a wild pitch brought De La Mota home to put the Mustangs back on top, 3-2.
 
Brailin Duran then came on for his first save opportunity of the season, looking to protect another one-run lead in the seventh. Duran did so brilliantly striking out all three batters he faced to secure Monroe's 3-2 victory and a twinbill sweep.
 
Carlos Peguero got the start for Monroe in Game 2, allowing just one hit and no runs across three innings. Jeffrey Pena gave up just one hit in his three innings in relief, but it happened to be Buckley's two-run homer. Pena still earned the victory for his first win of the year. Duran then shut the Fighting Owls down in the seventh for his first save. Paul Glenchur took the loss in relief for the Fighting Owls.
 
De La Mota had another clutch game for the Mustangs, hitting 1-for-3 with the game-tying RBI and the game-winning run. Batista went 2-for-3 with a double, while Andres Castro and Franco both hit 2-for-4. Yosmil Diaz and Ivan Santos each batted 1-for-2 in the win.
 
The Mustangs are back at Dick Caswell Field on Wednesday, March 15, with a matinee matchup against NJCAA Div. III No. 3 Rowan College South Jersey-Gloucester. First pitch on Wednesday is set for 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