NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., April 24, 2023 – Everything clicked for the Monroe College Mustangs baseball team on Monday, as they ended the 23-game winning streak of NJCAA Div. III No. 2 Rowan College South Jersey-Gloucester with a 12-2 run-rule victory at Dick Caswell Field. The Mustangs improve to 26-15 with the win, while the Roadrunners drop to 34-5.
 
The Mustangs quickly got on the board in the bottom of the first. Pedro Crespo legged out an infield single down the third-base line to lead off the inning, and then advanced to second on a groundout by Gilbert Gomez. Diego Urreta then singled on a line drive to right, bringing Crespo home to put the Mustangs up, 1-0. Urreta later stole second, and then moved to third on a failed pickoff attempt. Matthew Franco then hit a two-out ground-rule double to left-center, bringing Urreta home to leave the Mustangs ahead, 2-0.
 
Yeremay Moreno was hit by a pitch with one out to get things going for Monroe in the second. Ivan Santos hit a grounder to second that was thrown into the outfield, allowing Moreno to move up to third on the play. Crespo then hit a sacrifice fly to right, plating Moreno to put the Mustangs ahead by three.
 
Monroe got right back to work in the third. Jeremy De La Mota led off with a ground-rule double to deep center, and then moved up to third on a groundout by Franco. Pedro Vasquez brought him home with a single up the middle, making it a 4-0 lead for the Mustangs.
 
Urreta got it going for Monroe in the fifth with a single down the third-base line. A wild pitch then advanced him to second. Franco singled through the left side with one out to leave runners on the corners. Vasquez then hit into a fielder's choice on a chopper up the middle, bringing Urreta home on the play to put Monroe up, 5-0.
 
The Mustangs took advantage of what the pitcher gave them in the sixth. Monroe drew four walks across the first five batters of the inning to bring in a run and make it a 6-0 score. Franco was then hit by a pitch to plate another run for a 7-0 lead.
 
Jimmy Bruno led off the seventh with a walk for the Roadrunners, and then a wild pitch moved him up to second. A groundout by Felix Diaz advanced him to third, and then a balk allowed him to score to make it a 7-1 game. After Aaron Graeber drew a walk, Greg Cristino hit a two-out triple into the corner in right field to bring in another run and cut Monroe's lead to 7-2.
 
The Mustangs opened the home half of the seventh with three straight walks. Gomez then roped a double into the right-center gap, clearing the bases to put the Mustangs up, 10-2. After a walk by Urreta, De La Mota singled into left to bring Gomez home to go up by nine runs. Franco then walked it off with a single up the middle, plating Urreta to end the game via the run rule at 12-2.
 
Je-andrick Lourens was terrific on the hill for the Mustangs, going all seven innings and allowing just two runs on two hits with six strikeouts to pick up his sixth win of the season. Ricky Glascock took the loss for the Roadrunners to fall to 0-2.
 
Franco hit 3-for-4 with a double and three RBIs in the win. Urreta batted 2-for-3 with three runs and an RBI. Gomez went 1-for-3 with three RBIs, two runs and a double. De La Mota hit a double and finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored. Vasquez knocked in two runs after hitting 1-for-3. Crespo scored twice and plated a run in a 1-for-3 outing.
 
The Mustangs will celebrate Sophomore Day ahead of their final regular-season contest on Sunday, April 30, when they host Citius Prep at Dick Caswell Field. First pitch is scheduled for 2 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