NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., March 26, 2023 – The bats were alive and well for the Monroe College Mustangs softball team on Sunday, as they picked up a pair of run-rule victories over the County College of Morris at Flowers Park. The Mustangs won Game 1, 10-1, in five frames, before an 11-3 win in Game 2, once again in five innings. The Mustangs improve to 10-17 with the wins, while the Titans drop to 3-9.
 
GAME 1: Monroe 10, Morris 1 (5 INN)
The game immediately got off to a rough start for the Mustangs, as a line drive to right-center by Morris' leadoff hitter, Madison Paseler, got between the outfielders and kept rolling, allowing her to touch them all for an inside-the-park home run, giving the visitors an instant 1-0 lead.
 
The Mustangs bounced right in their first at-bat of the day. Genesis Duarte-Suarez drew a walk with one out, and then Paola Calderon hit a single right up the middle. Angie Ordonez reached on a fielding error by the third baseman to load the bases, and then a groundout to second by Thanysha Gil brought in Duarte-Suarez to tie the game. Cinthia Ramirez then ripped a two-RBI single into left-center to put the Mustangs on top, 3-1.
 
In the second, Marissa Thalassinos drew a one-out walk, and then stole second. Mya Jack then beat out a grounder to third, putting runners on the corners for the Mustangs. Jack then stole second, and a passed ball on the next pitch brought in Thalassinos to put Monroe up, 4-1.
 
Juliana Vasquez led off the fourth with a walk, and then Thalassinos singled through the right side to put runners on the corners for the Mustangs. After Thalassinos swiped second, Jack hit a chopper toward first that was too slow to get any runner, plating Vasquez to make it a 5-1 game. Duarte-Suarez then hit a grounder to second that was bobbled, allowing both Thalassinos and Jack to score and bring Monroe's lead to 7-1. With one out, Angie Ordonez hit a high fly ball to right that was lost in the sun by the right fielder and dropped, allowing Duarte-Suarez to score for an 8-1 edge. Gil then singled up the gut to bring in Ordonez and make it a 9-1 game, but Gil was thrown out trying to take second on the play. Ramirez then hit a hard line drive down the right field line that rolled into the corner, allowing her to sprint around the bases for an inside-the-park home run and a 10-1 lead, which ultimately resulted in a run-rule finish after five innings.
 
Wall did not allow a hit after the leadoff home run, going all five frames with four strikeouts to earn her seventh win of the season. Julie Vervaet took the loss for Morris to fall to 2-2.
 
Ramirez batted 3-for-3 with three RBIs, a run scored and a home run in the Game-1 win. Jack went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run, as well as two stolen bases. Thalassinos scored twice after finishing 1-for-1 with a pair of stolen bases as well. Gil knocked in two after hitting 1-for-3. Ordonez hit 1-for-2 with two runs and an RBI. Duarte-Suarez did not register a hit, but still managed to score twice and knock in a run.
 
GAME 2: Monroe 11, Morris 3 (5 INN)
The Titans got off to another strong start in Game 2. After Paseler was hit by a pitch to lead off the game, Olivia DiDuiseppi hit a long line drive down the left-field line for a two-run inside-the-park home run, giving Morris a quick 2-0 lead.
 
Ramirez hit a hard grounder up the middle to lead off the second for Monroe, but the hustling sophomore turned it into a double to start the threat. Zoe Rivera was hit by a pitch, and then Maria Perez singled to left to bring in Ramirez and cut the deficit in half. Ashley Ulmschneider then attempted a sacrifice bunt, but not only did she beat the throw for a single, but the throw went sailing into foul territory in right, allowing all three runners to score and put the Mustangs up, 4-2. Ashleigh Stewart immediately followed with line drive into the gap in right-center for an inside-the-park home run, pushing Monroe's lead to 5-2. Jack beat out a bunt single, and then Duarte-Suarez singled through the left side, resulting in two runners in scoring position after the throw to third was not in time. Calderon then grounded out to short, but managed to bring in Jack for a 6-2 Mustang advantage. Ordonez drew a walk, and then Ramirez hit into a fielder's choice, with a high throw to first on a double-play attempt allowing Duarte-Suarez to score, leaving the Mustangs on top, 7-2.
 
The Titans had runners on first and third with two outs in the third when DiDuiseppi stole second, but an errant throw allowed Paseler to score from third to make it a 7-3 game.
 
Jack led off the fourth with a single up the middle. Two batters later, Calderon hit a long fly ball over the right fielder for a two-run inside-the-park home run, making it a 9-3 lead for Monroe. Ordonez singled to right-center, and then Ramirez hit a long fly ball down the right-field line for a two-run inside-the-park homer of her own, putting the Mustangs up, 11-3, once again forcing a run-rule finish after five.
 
Layla Ramos went four innings for the Mustangs, allowing just two earned runs on five hits with five strikeouts to pick up the win. Mia Colamarino pitched a scoreless fifth to close it out. Kelly Sesnick took the loss for the Titans.
 
Ramirez had another big game, finishing 2-for-3 with a two-run homer, a double, two RBIs and two runs scored in the win. Calderon went 1-for-3 with three RBIs, a run and a home run. Stewart batted 1-for-2 with a solo homer. Jack closed out an efficient day with a 3-for-3 effort, scoring twice and stealing a base. Duarte-Suarez hit 1-for-1 with a run. Perez went 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run score. Ulmschneider went 1-for-2 with a run scored. Ordonez hit 1-for-2 with a run.
 
The Mustangs will play next on Sunday, April 2, when they host Lackawanna College at Flowers Park. 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