NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., April 25, 2023 – The Monroe College Mustangs softball team celebrated its 14 sophomores between games of a doubleheader sweep over Bucks County Community College on Tuesday at Flowers Park. The Mustangs picked up a 19-8 win in the opener before closing out the day with a 10-1 victory. Monroe improves to 24-22 overall with the pair of wins.
 
GAME 1: Monroe 19, Bucks County 8 (5 INN)
The Mustangs wasted no time getting on the board in Tuesday's opener. Mya Jack was walked to lead off the first, stole second base on the next pitch, and was then brought home on a single up the middle by Genesis Duarte-Suarez for a quick 1-0 lead. After a walk by Paola Calderon, Thanysha Gil hit a three-run inside-the-park home run to left, pushing Monroe's lead to four. Cinthia Ramirez was hit by a pitch, and then Zoe Rivera walked. Ashleigh Stewart followed with a single through the left side, plating Ramirez for a 5-0 edge. After a walk by Juliana Vasquez, Ashley Ulmschneider singled into left to bring in two more mores. Jack singled into left to load the bases, Duarte-Suarez walked to bring in the eighth run of the inning. Calderon drew another base-on-balls to make it a 9-0 lead. Another walk to Gil pushed the lead to 10. After an out on the basepaths, a single by Ramirez brought Duarte-Suarez home for an 11-0 lead. Stewart then singled through the left side once again to bring Gil home to go up, 12-0.
 
Jack got things going with a one-out single in the second. Duarte-Suarez followed with one of her own, and then a single into left by Calderon brought Jack home to go up by 13. A bases-loaded walk for Ramirez brought Monroe's 14th run home. Rivera grounded out to second, but brought home Calderon on the play for a 15-0 score. Stewart dropped a two-out single into short center to play Gil to go up by 16.
 
In the bottom of the third, Ulmschneider hit a leadoff double to left, and then Jack singled off the pitcher's leg. Duarte-Suarez then hit into a fielder's choice, but brought Ulmschneider home on the play to make it a 17-0 lead for Monroe.
 
The Centurions got on the board in the top of the fourth. Aided by a couple errors, they brought four runs across with one hit to make it a 17-4 game.
 
The Mustangs sent three straight pinch hitters to the plate to start the fourth. Ava Gillen led off with a single up the middle, and then Mia Colamarino and Varela Cappas both drew walks. Stewart then singled up the middle, plating Gillen and Colamarino for a 19-4 lead.
 
The Centurions had another four-run frame in the fifth to bring the score to 19-8, but it was not enough to extend the game, as the Mustangs won Game 1 via the run rule after five innings.
 
Layla Ramos went four scoreless innings in Game 1, allowing just two hits while striking out four to earn her fifth win of the season. Katheryn Hastings took the loss for Bucks County.
 
Stewart brought five runs home and scored once herself in a 4-for-4 effort in Game 1. Gil hit 1-for-1 with four RBIs, three runs scored and a home run. Duarte-Suarez scored three times and knocked in another three after hitting 2-for-3. Ulmschneider went 2-for-4 with a double, two RBIs and two runs scored. Jack scored three times in a 3-for-3 outing. Calderon batted 1-for-2 with two RBIs and two runs. Ramirez finished 1-for-1 with two RBIs and a run.
 
GAME 2: Monroe 10, Bucks County 1
The Centurions picked up a run in the top of the first in Game 2. With runners on first and third, Shana Gugliandolo singled into left to bring in a run and give Bucks County an early lead.
 
The Mustangs quickly responded in their first at-bat of Tuesday's finale. Jack doubled into left, and then quickly swiped third base. After Duarte-Suarez walked, a double steal allowed Jack to score to tie the game. With the bases loaded and two outs, Shania Thomas drew a walk to give Monroe the lead. An dropped pop up hit by Vasquez brought Marissa Thalassinos home for a 3-1 lead. Ulmschneider followed with a two-RBI single up the middle to go up by four. Jack beat out a single to short to plate Vasquez for a 6-1 edge. Duarte-Suarez then capped off the inning with a three-run inside-the-park homer to center to leave the Mustangs on top, 9-1.
 
Ramirez led off the second with a walk and then stole second base. She came home on a single to center by Rivera to make it a 10-1 ballgame, which proved to be the final score in Game 2.
 
Colamarino got the Game 2 start for Monroe and tossed three innings without allowing an earned run to pick up her second win of the year. Cappas went 1.2 frames without giving up a run, while Stewart came on to record the final out of the game.
 
Duarte-Suarez knocked in three runs and scored twice herself after hitting 2-for-2 with a home run in the win. Jack batted 2-for-3 with a double, two runs, an RBI and a pair of stolen bases. Ulmschneider went 1-for-2 with two RBIs and a run scored. Rivera hit 1-for-2 with an RBI and a run in the game.
 
The Mustangs will take to the road for their final six games of the regular season this week. Their trip begins on Thursday, April 27, when they visit Raritan Valley Community College in Branchburg, N.J. Game 1 is set for a 3 p.m. first pitch.
 
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