RANDOLPH, N.J., April 18, 2023 – The Monroe College Mustangs baseball team was unable to hang onto a late five-run lead, falling to the County College of Morris, 12-11, Tuesday afternoon. The Mustangs fall to 24-14 with the loss, while the Titans improve to 17-17.
 
Tuesday's game got off to a tough start for the Mustangs. In the bottom of the first, Chris Hopf hit a one-out, three run homer to left to give the Titans a quick 3-0 advantage.
 
This proved to be no big deal for the Mustangs, who bounced right back in the second. Jeremy De La Mota and Jordy Batista both walked to open the frame, and then Pedro Vasquez singled in De La Mota to cut the deficit to two. Matthew Franco made it a one-run game with an RBI single to center. Andres Castro then hit into a double play, but it was enough to bring Vasquez in from third to tie the game at 3-3.
 
Gilbert Gomez hit a one-out single to get things going in the top of the third for Monroe. De La Mota then drew another walk with two down. Batista made the Titans pay for that by smashing a three-run homer to center, thrusting the Mustangs into the lead, 6-3.
 
Sean Ambrose reached base in the fourth on an error with one out. Ambrose later stole third, and then came home on a sacrifice fly by Raymond Banks to make it a 6-4 game.
 
Christian Guarante was standing on second with two outs in the fifth for Morris. Hopf then got the Titans on the board again with an RBI single, cutting Monroe's lead to 6-5.
 
Franco led off the sixth with a walk, and then moved to second on a groundout. Yosmil Diaz hit a single to put runners on the corners, and then an error on a grounder by Pedro Crespo brought in Franco to make it a 7-5 game. Gomez then doubled to left, plating both runners to push the lead to 9-5.
 
Guarante reached on an error to lead off the seventh for Morris. With Guarante on second, Chris Giacalone singled to left, bringing him in to bring the score to 9-6.
 
Castro and Diaz hit back-to-back singles to open the top of the eighth. Gomez also singled with one out to load the bases. A fourth single by Diego Urreta plated Castro to put Monroe up by four. De La Mota then hit a sacrifice fly to right, bringing Diaz home for an 11-6 advantage.
 
The Titans took advantage of the opportunities they were given in the bottom of the eighth. After the first two batters failed to reach base, an error on a fly ball by Banks kept the inning going for Morris. A pinch-hitting Zach Roskowsky was hit by a pitch, and then Guarente doubled to center to plate two runs and make it an 11-8 game. Giacalone  and Aidan Pierre both walked to load the bases, and then a wild pitch brought Guarente home to make it a two-run game. Another wild pitch then allowed Giacalone to score and bring the Titans within a run.
 
In the bottom of the ninth, Ambrose was hit by a pitch with one out, and then Banks drew another walk to put the winning run on base. After a wild pitch put both runners in scoring position, Banks was replaced on second base by Alex DeSimone. With two down, Guarente hit a single to center, bringing both runners home to walk it off for Morris with a 12-11 win.
 
Issaiah Kuc-Batista picked up the win in relief for the Titans to improve to 1-1. Bruno Vincenzo took the loss in relief for the Mustangs.
 
Gomez hit 3-for-5 with two RBIS, a run and a double in the game. Batista finished 1-for-3 with three RBIs and two runs scored after hitting his first homer of the season. Vasquez went 2-for-5 with an RBI, a run and a double. Diaz scored twice after hitting 2-for-4. Castro also batted 2-for-4 with a run scored. Franco knocked in a run and scored once in a 1-for-3 effort. Urreta plated a run after hitting 1-for-5. Crespo finished 1-for-6 with an RBI and a run scored.
 
The Mustangs will look to end a three-game skid this weekend when they visit Erie Community College in Williamsville, N.Y. for a three-game weekend series. Game 1 of the series will be a nine-inning contest on Friday, April 21, beginning at 3 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).
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