NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., March 9, 2023 – Despite a ninth-inning rally by Rockland Community College, the Monroe College Mustangs baseball team held on to pick up a 7-5 victory over the Hawks on Thursday at Dick Caswell Field. The Mustangs improve to 7-9 with their fourth straight win, while the Hawks drop to 0-6.
 
Pedro Crespo led off the home half of first with a single up the middle, but was then forced out on Diego Urreta's fielder's choice to second. Ronald Almanzar drew a walk, and then with two outs, Pedro Vasquez ripped a double over the left fielder to bring in both runs, then advanced to third on an error. Matthew Franco followed with a double to left of his own to plate Vasquez and leave the Mustangs up, 3-0, after one.
 
Jeremy De La Mota hit a one-out single through the right side in the fifth, and then Vasquez ripped one through the left side to get two runners on. Franco then hit a ground-rule double to right-center, plating De La Mota for a 4-0 lead. Yosmil Diaz then hit a grounder to third that was thrown away, allowing Vasquez to score and push the lead to five.
 
The Mustangs got it going again in the sixth. Urreta drew a walk with one away, and then Almanzar singled into right. A failed pickoff moved both runners into scoring position, allowing both to come home on a single up the middle by De La Mota to make it a 7-0 game.
 
Despite the seven-run advantage heading into the ninth, the Hawks proved that the win was not yet a given for the Mustangs. A hit-by-pitch and a pair of walks loaded the bases for Rockland with one away. Chris Calvario then singled into left to bring in Rockland's first run of the game. A balk then brought in another runner to make it a 7-2 score. Dan Sidoti then hit a two-out single to center, plating both runners to make it a 7-4 game. A wild pitch moved Sidoti to second, and then Jaison Mock singled up the middle to bring him home and bring the score to 7-5, but Damani Wallace got Ben Partridge to pop out in foul territory to end the threat.
 
Je-andrick Lourens had a stellar outing, going seven shutout frames with seven strikeouts and just five hits allowed to earn the win and improve to 2-2 on the season. Rockland starter Joe Tarantino falls to 0-2 after going just one inning and allowing three runs. Wallace came on with two outs and a three-run lead in the ninth, getting the final out to earn his first save.
 
Franco finished 4-for-4 with a pair of doubles and two RBIs in the win. De La Mota went 2-for-4 with a two RBIs and a run scored. Vasquez finished 2-for-5 with a double, two runs and two RBIs. Urreta and Almanzar each went 1-for-4 with two runs scored, with Urreta also smacking a double in the game.
 
The Mustangs are back in action this Sunday, March 12, when they host Harford Community College for a doubleheader at Dick Caswell Field. Game 1 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