WILLIAMSVILLE, N.J., April 21, 2023 – The Monroe College Mustangs baseball team split a doubleheader at Erie Community College on Friday. Erie picked up the win in Game 1, 7-4, before Monroe bounced back to take Game 2, 9-7. The Mustangs close the day with a 25-15 record, while the Kats move to 19-18.
 
GAME 1: Erie 7, Monroe 4
The Kats loaded the bases in the bottom of the second with one away. Christian Cabrera then hit a bases-clearing double, bringing in three runs to give Erie a 3-0 lead. Three batters later, Christian Pagano added an RBI single to leave the home team up, 4-0.
 
The Mustangs got on the board in the top of the third. After the first two batters failed to reach base, Yeremay Moreno was hit by a pitch to keep the inning alive. Pedro Crespo then doubled to left, plating Moreno to make it a 4-1 game.
 
The Mustangs closed the gap in the top of the fifth. Andres Castro led off with a single up the middle, and then a pinch-hitting Ivan Santos drew a walk. Crespo came through again with an RBI single to score Castro to get Monroe within two. With two down, Diego Urreta tripled to deep center, plating Santos and Crespo to tie the game at 4-4.
 
The Kats picked up the rest of their runs in the bottom of the fifth. After loading the bases, a pair of wild pitches brought in two runs for the Kats. Tyler Kerl then capped things off with a sacrifice fly to center to make it a 7-4 game.
 
Spencer Harford went all seven innings for the Kats, allowing four runs to pick up the win. Carlos Peguero shouldered just his second loss of the season for Monroe.
 
Crespo finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs, a run, a stolen base and a double in the game. Urreta knocked in two runs after hitting 1-for-3 with a triple. Castro batted 1-for-3 with a run scored.
 
GAME 2: Monroe 9, Erie 7
After struggling in Game 1, the Mustangs made sure to get off to a fast start in Friday's finale. Crespo led off the game with a double to left, and then Santos singled to put runners on first and third. Jeremy De La Mota was hit by a pitch to load the bases, and then Urreta knocked in two on a single to center. Matthew Franco followed with a two-RBI double to left to push the early lead to 4-0. Castro hit a one-out single, and then Pedro Vasquez blasted a three-run homer to right, making it a 7-0 advantage for the Mustangs.
 
Erie chipped away at the deficit in the bottom of the third. After two walks to open the inning, Christian Cabrera hit an RBI single to get the Kats on the board. Colby Wilson then brought in a run on a fielder's choice. Later in the inning, a passed ball with the bases loaded brought in one more run to leave the Mustangs up, 7-3.
 
The Mustangs responded in their next at-bat. Monroe's first two batters did not reach base to open the fourth, but a single by De La Mota kept the inning alive. Urreta then drew a walk to get two runners on. Monroe succeeded on a double steal, but the throw to third got away, allowing De La Mota to come home and make it an 8-3 game. Franco then singled in Urreta to make it a 9-3 lead for Monroe.
 
Erie later put a scare in the Mustangs in the bottom of the seventh and final frame. With one out, Andrew Nantau singled, and then came home on a double by Cabrera to get the Kats within five. With the bases loaded shortly after, Pagano was hit by a pitch to bring in another run to make it a 9-5 game. Landislaus Landwehr followed with a two-RBI single to get the Kats within two. Carter Whitehead flew out to right for the second out, and then D'Aartagnan Van Dusen struck out to end the game.
 
Andrelys Payamps turned in a solid start to pick up the win in Game 2. He went six innings, allowing just two earned runs on three hits while striking out eight batters to improve to 6-3 on the season. Sammuel Urena came on with one out in the seventh and got the final two outs to secure his first save of the year. Ryan Moran took the loss for Erie.
 
Vasquez finished 3-for-4 with a three-run homer in the win. Franco batted 2-for-4 with a double, three RBIs and a run. Urreta went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Crespo hit 2-for-4 with a double and a run. De La Mota scored twice after hitting 1-for-3. Santos and Castro each hit 1-for-4 with a run scored.
 
The Mustangs and Kats go head-to-head once more on Saturday, April 22, to close out the weekend series. First pitch is scheduled for 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