WEST WINDSOR, N.J., March 5, 2023 – Everything was working for the Monroe College Mustangs baseball team on Sunday, leading to an impressive doubleheader sweep of NJCAA Div. II No. 8 Mercer County Community College. The Mustangs won Game 1, 13-2, with a run-rule stoppage after five innings, and then went on to take home an 8-1 victory in Game 2. The Mustangs improve to 5-9 on the season with the wins, while the Vikings drop to 2-6.
 
GAME 1: Monroe 13, Mercer County 2 (5 INN)
The Mustangs got on the Vikings early in Sunday's opener. Andres Castro singled up the middle to lead off the game. With two outs and Castro on third, Ronald Almanzar drew a walk to put runners on the corners. Pedro Vasquez then singled into center to score Castro, but a misplayed ball also allowed Almanzar to come around and score and give Monroe a quick 2-0 lead.
 
Mercer County struck back in its first at-bat of the day. With runners on the corners, a double steal allowed Evrin Virola to score from third for the Vikings' first run. Jon Pinciotti then hit an RBI single to tie the game at 2-2.
 
The Mustangs had two quick outs in the second before Pedro Crespo singled to keep things going. Castro followed with another single, and then Diego Urreta made it three straight to bring in Crespo and put the Mustangs back on top, 3-2.
 
Almanzar and Yosmil Diaz were both on base with two outs in the third when a wild pitch moved Almanzar to third. The catcher tried to throw him out, but ended up throwing the ball away, allowing him to come home and make it a 4-2 game. Two batters later, Crespo doubled to right to score Diaz to give Monroe a three-run lead.
 
The Mustangs got on board once again in the fourth. Almanzar stroked a one-out triple to center, and then Vasquez singled him in to make it a 6-2 score.
 
Monroe exploded in the fifth to eventually force the run-rule finish in Game 1. Crespo hit a one-out single, and then Castro drew a walk. Urreta doubled into right to bring in both runners and put the Mustangs ahead by six. Jeremy De La Mota plated Urreta with a single to make it a seven-run game. Almanzar then doubled him in to bring the score to 10-2. Vasquez kept it going with an RBI single to score Almanzar to put Monroe up, 11-2. After a single by Gilbert Gomez and a ground out by Diaz had two runners in scoring position with two outs, Yeremay Moreno cleared the bases with a two-RBI single to right, leaving the Mustangs up, 13-2.
 
Andrelis Payamps went all five frames for Monroe, allowing just two runs on two hits with eight strikeouts to earn his first win of the season. Colin Bernhard took the loss for the Vikings.
 
Vasquez finished 3-for-4 with three RBIs and a run scored in the win. Urreta hit 2-for-3 with three RBIs, a run and a double. Almanzar scored four times after going 2-for-2 with a double, a triple and an RBI. Moreno knocked in two in a 1-for-4 effort. Crespo went 3-for-4 in the game with two runs scored, a double and an RBI.
 
GAME 2: Monroe 8, Mercer County 1
The Mustangs did all their damage in the top of the first in Game 2 on Sunday. Castro once again led off the gam ewith a single to right, and then stole both second and third. Urreta walked, and then Almanzar hit a fly ball to left that was dropped, allowing Castro to score and leaving two runners in scoring position. A ground out by De La Mota brought in Urreta to make it a 2-0 game. Jordy Batista singled in Almanzar for a three-run lead. After Vasquez walked, Yosmil Diaz slammed a two-out, three-run homer to left, making it a quick 6-0 lead for the Mustangs. They still were not done there, as Gomez kept the inning alive with a walk. After he stole second, Castro doubled him in for a seven-run edge. Urreta followed with one more double to plate Castro and leave the Mustangs up, 8-0.
 
The Vikings then scored their lone run of the game in the bottom of the second. With the bases loaded, Hunter Rivera singled in Nick Harley, but starter Carlos Peguero was able to get the next two outs to limit the damage and keep Monroe up, 8-1.
 
Peguero ended up going four frames in the win, allowing just one run on two hits to improve to 2-0 on the season. Samuel Herrera struck out three batters and allowed just one hit with no runs in two innings of relief. Jeffery Pena struck out one batter and yielded just one hit in the seventh to close it out. Daniel Flanigan took the loss for the Vikings.
 
Diaz finished 1-for-2 with his three-run homer in the win. Castro batted 2-for-3 with two runs, an RBI and a double. Urreta hit 1-for-2 with a double, an RBI and a run scored. De La Mota added an RBI in a 1-for-2 effort that included a triple. Batista knocked in a run after going 1-for-2.
 
After playing their first 14 games on the road, the Mustangs will begin a seven-game homestand on Tuesday, March 7, when they host Rockland Community College in the first of two games with the Hawks this week. Tuesday's nine-inning contest is set for a 3:30 p.m. first pitch.
 
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