BEL AIR, Md., April 15, 2023 – Pedro Vasquez blasted three home runs and knocked in seven RBIs to lead the Monroe College Mustangs baseball team to a 14-6 victory at Harford Community College on Saturday. The Mustangs improve to 24-11 overall with the win, while the Fighting Owls drop to 23-14.
 
Vasquez batted 3-for-5 on the day, more than doubling his season total with three long balls. He now takes over the team lead with five home runs on the season. Vasquez's day included seven RBIs and four runs scored in an enormous blow-up game for the freshman outfielder.
 
The Mustangs used a big second inning to grab the advantage over the Fighting Owls. Ronald Almanzar led off with a single up the middle, and then Jordy Batista hit a single into left. Vasquez delivered the big blow of the inning, launching a three-run homer clear over the scoreboard in left-center to put the Mustangs up, 3-0. Matthew Franco got things going again with a double, and later advanced to third on a passed ball. Pedro Crespo then doubled down the right-field line to bring Franco home for a four-run edge. Crespo moved to third on a groundout, and then a wild pitch saw Crespo hesitate towards home and get into a rundown. A throw towards the plate by the third baseman reached the pitcher's mitt just as Crespo ran through it, jarring the ball loose and allowing Crespo to score and leave the Mustangs up, 5-0.
 
Jeremy De La Mota led off the third for Monroe with a double to right-center. Almanzar then hit a grounder to short, but a throw to third trying to catch De La Mota went off the runner's helmet, allowing him to advance safely. With one down, Vasquez did it again, blasting a long fly ball over the right-center fence for his second three-run homer in as many innings, pushing Monroe's lead to 8-0.
 
The Fighting Owls got on the board in the bottom of the third. Charlie Canapp led off with a double, and then a single by Dylan Perry put runners on the corners for Harford. Brody Levin then hit a one-out single to bring in Canapp for Harford's first run of the day. Joey Pagano then hit a sacrifice fly to center, plating Levin from third to make it an 8-2 game.
 
The Mustangs bounced right back in the top of the fourth. Diego Urreta led off with a single to left. Almanzar later hit a one-out single, and then a passed ball moved both runners into scoring position. A fielder's choice by Batista saw Urreta thrown out at home for the second out of the inning. Vasquez struck out swinging, but the ball trickled away from the catcher, allowing Vasquez to reach first and load the bases. A wild pitch then brought Almanzar home to make it a 9-2 game. Franco followed with a two-RBI single up the gut, leaving the Mustangs on top, 11-2.
 
The game was quiet until the top of the seventh. With two down, Crespo kept the inning alive with a single up the middle. A wild pitch advanced him to second, and then Gomez knocked him in with a single into center to make it a 12-2 ballgame.
 
With a chance for the Mustangs to end the game via the run rule in the seventh, Robert Buckley hit a leadoff, pinch-hit solo homer for the Fighting Owls to make it a 12-3 score. Trey Cruz drew a one-out walk, and then Brody Levin hit another home run for the home team, with his two-run shot to right-center making it a 12-5 game.
 
The Fighting Owls loaded the bases with nobody out in the bottom of the eighth. Brailin Duran came on to try and limit the damage, getting the next two batters out before a wild pitch brought in a run to make it a 12-6 game. Duran then kept Harford off the board for the rest of the frame to maintain a six-run lead.
 
Vasquez did it again in the top of the ninth. Leading off the inning, he launched a no-doubter to left for his third home run of the day, pushing Monroe's lead to 13-6. Franco was then hit by a pitch, and then Yeremay Moreno singled up the middle to put runners on first and third. Crespo then hit a sacrifice fly to center, plating Franco for a 14-6 advantage.
 
Je-andrick Lourens went six innings on the hill for the Mustangs, allowing just two runs with eight strikeouts to earn his fifth win of the season. Doug Marose allowed 11 runs (seven earned) to take the loss for Harford.
 
In addition to Vasquez's big day, Franco finished 2-for-4 with a double, two RBIs and two runs scored. Almanzar scored three times in a 2-for-4 outing. Crespo hit 3-for-5 with two RBIs, two runs scored and a double in the win. Gomez hit 2-for-6 with an RBI. Urreta also went 2-for-6 in the game. Batista scored two times after hitting 1-for-5. De La Cruz doubled and scored a run in a 1-for-6 game.
 
The Mustangs and Fighting Owls go head-to-head twice more on Sunday, April 16. The doubleheader is set to begin at 12 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