KEYSER, W.V., April 14, 2023 – The Monroe College Mustangs baseball team got the job done in a crucial doubleheader at WVU Potomac State College on Friday. The Mustangs swept the twinbill against their East District foes, winning Game 1, 7-1, before a 4-2 victory in Game 2. Monroe improves to 23-11 overall with the wins, while Potomac State drops to 16-12.
 
GAME 1: Monroe 7, Potomac State 1
Friday's opener was a pitcher's duel through the first five frames, with the Catamounts breaking a scoreless tie in the bottom of the fifth. Kris Sutton's leadoff double got things going for the home team, but later in the frame, a one-out error loaded the bases for the Catamounts. Cam Cole then brought in a run on a sacrifice fly to put Potomac State up, 1-0.
 
That run gave lift a fire under the Mustangs, who finally broke through in the top of the sixth. Gilbert Gomez singled to center, and then Diego Urreta reached on an error. Ronald Almanzar then hit a one-out RBI single that was accompanied by an error in center, allowing two runs to come home and put the Mustangs up, 2-1. With two down, Andres Castro ripped a triple to right to bring in Almanzar for a 3-1 lead.
 
The Mustangs picked things up again in the seventh. Pedro Crespo hit a one-out single, and then proceeded to swipe second. He came home on an RBI single by Gomez that put Monroe up by three. Urreta drew a walk, and then Jeremy De La Mota doubled to left to plate Gomez for a 5-1 lead. Almanzar then brought Urreta home with a sacrifice fly to left, and then Matthew Franco capped off the scoring with an RBI single to left that plated De La Mota to make it a 7-1 game.
 
Carlos Peguero got back on track in Friday's opener, going the complete seven innings without allowing an earned run to pick up his fourth win. He struck out seven batters in the win and yielded just four hits. Jake Arnold took the loss after giving up three runs (one earned) over six frames.
 
Almanzar hit 1-for-3 with three RBIs and a run scored in the game. Castro batted 2-for-3 with a triple and an RBI. Gomez scored twice and knocked in a run in a 2-for-4 effort. De La Mota plated a run and scored once himself after going 1-for-4 with a double. Pedro Vasquez and Franco each hit 1-for-2. Crespo scored a run in a 1-for-4 game.
 
GAME 2: Monroe 4, Potomac State 2
Unlike Game 1, Friday's finale saw both teams get off to a quick start. An error put Crespo on first to open the game, and then Gomez singled to get two runners on. Urreta then doubled to center, plating Crespo for a swift 1-0 lead. De La Mota followed with an RBI single to push the lead to two. Castro then grounded into a double play, but Urreta came home on the play to leave the Mustangs up, 3-0.
 
The Catamounts had a runner on second with one out when Nik Rubendall doubled to left to plate Potomac State's first run. Morgan Little then singled in Rubendall to make it a 3-2 game.
 
That score held until the top of the fifth. Yeremay Moreno led off the inning with a double, and then moved to third on a groundout. Gomez knocked him in with a single to center to make it a 4-2 game, which ultimately proved to be the final score as the Mustangs held the Catamounts off the board for the final six innings.
 
Andrelys Payamps tossed a great game for the Mustangs in Game 2. He went all seven frames, allowing just two runs on two hits with eight strikeouts for his fifth win of the year. Tyler Henshaw yielded four runs (three earned) to take the loss for Potomac State.
 
Gomez finished 3-for-3 with a triple, an RBI and a run scored. De La Mota batted 2-for-3 with an RBI. Urreta hit 1-for-3 with a double, a run and an RBI. Crespo and Moreno each went 1-for-3 with a run scored, with Moreno's lone hit being a double. Almanzar and Vasquez both batted 1-for-3 as well.
 
The Mustangs continue their weekend tour of East District opponents on Saturday, April 15, when they visit Harford Community College for the first game of a three-game series over the next two days. Tomorrow's single game against the Fighting Owls is set for a 4 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