RANDOLPH, N.J., April 20, 2023 – Sarah Wall led the effort on Thursday for the Monroe College Mustangs softball team, as they picked up a pair of shutout victories over County College of Morris. Wall tossed a one-hitter in Game 1's 4-0 victory before picking up another win in a 10-0 run-rule victory in Game 2. The Mustangs even their record at 22-22 with the sweep, while the Titans fall to 15-13.
 
GAME 1: Monroe 4, Morris 0
Wall stole the show in Game 1 for the Mustangs. She allowed just one hit in a seven-inning shutout, striking out an impressive 14 batters with just one walk allowed to earn the victory.
 
The Mustangs did all their work in the middle innings of Thursday's opener. Ashleigh Stewart led off the third with a walk, and then later moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Mya Jack. Genesis Duarte-Suarez then doubled her in to put the Mustangs ahead, 1-0.
 
Thanysha Gil opened the fourth with a walk, and then Ava Gillen took over for her on the basepaths. A passed ball moved her to second, and then a flyout allowed her to tag up to third. Marissa Thalassinos then doubled her in to double the lead. Thalassinos went to third on a groundout, and then a wild pitch brought her home for a 3-0 Mustang advantage.
 
Jack walked to lead off the fifth, and then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Another wild pitch later moved her to third, and then a groundout by Paola Calderon brought her home to give Monroe a 4-0 lead.
 
Thalassinos hit 1-for-4 with an RBI, a run and a double in the win. Duarte-Suarez and Calderon also both went 1-for-4 with an RBI each, with Duarte-Suarez's hit being a two-bagger. Gil went 2-for-3. Jack scored a run and walked twice in a 1-for-1 outing. Ordonez hit 1-for-3.
 
GAME 2: Monroe 10, Morris 0 (5 INN)
The Mustangs got off to a quick start in Game 2. Jack beat out a bunt single to lead off the game, and then advanced to second when a throw got away. Duarte-Suarez sacrificed her over to third, and then Calderon reached on an error that brought Jack home to give Monroe an early 1-0 lead.
 
Thalassinos tripled to open the second frame for Monroe. Zoe Rivera then brought her home on a sacrifice fly to make it a 2-0 game.
 
The Mustangs then broke the game open in the third. Duarte-Suarez led off with a double, and then Calderon drew a walk. With one out, Cinthia Ramirez reached on dropped fly ball in center that brought in a run for a 3-0 advantage. Thalassinos then loaded the bases with an infield single. With two down, Stewart singled in two runs to push the lead to five. Ashley Ulmschneider then singled in one more to leave the Mustangs on top, 6-0.
 
The first two Mustangs did not reach base in the top of the fourth, but Calderon hit a two-out double to keep things going. Gil then reached on an error at short, and Ramirez followed with a two-RBI double to center to make it an 8-0 game. Thalassinos then brought in Ramirez with a single to right for a 9-0 Mustangs edge.
 
The Mustangs made it five straight innings with a run after getting on the board again in the fifth. Jack hit a one-out single, and then stole second. Duarte-Suarez brought her in on an RBI single to left to put the Mustangs ahead by 10, leading to a run-rule finish after five.
 
Wall had another strong start, striking out five batters across three shutout innings to earn her second win of the day and improve to 15-12 on the season. Layla Ramos and Mia Colamarino took the circle for the final two frames, keeping the Titans off the board the rest of the way. Kelly Sesnick took the loss for Morris.
 
Thalassinos finished a perfect 3-for-3 with a triple, two runs and an RBI in the Game 2 victory. Calderon scored twice and knocked in a run after going 2-for-3 with a double. Stewart went 2-for-3 with two RBIS, while Duarte-Suarez doubled and plated a run in a 2-for-3 effort. Jack scored two runs and stole a base after hitting 2-for-4. Ramirez totaled two RBIs and two runs with a double in a 1-for-3 game. Ulmschneider batted 1-for-2 with an RBI.
 
The Mustangs finally return home for Sophomore Day this Saturday, April 22, as they host Bucks County Community College at Flowers Park. A pregame Sophomore Day ceremony will precede the 12 p.m. first pitch for Game 1.
 
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