SEWELL, N.J., April 5, 2023 – The Monroe College Mustangs baseball team dropped a 19-7 decision at NJCAA Div. III No. 3 Rowan College South Jersey-Gloucester Wednesday afternoon. The Mustangs fall to 18-11 overall with the loss, while the Roadrunners improve to 21-4 with their 10th straight win.
 
Diego Urreta drew a walk to open the game, and then an error put Gilbert Gomez on base. Jordy Batista then hit into a double play, leaving Urreta on third with two outs. Jeremy De La Mota then got the Mustangs on the board with a two-run homer to right-center, giving Monroe a quick 2-0 lead.
 
The first two batters for the Roadrunners did not reach base in the first, but Aaron Graeber reached on an error to keep the inning alive. Felix Diaz then singled to left, and then Cole Fowler made the Mustangs pay with a three-run homer, giving the home team a 3-2 edge after one.
 
The Roadrunners added to their lead in the third. Scotty Young walked, and then Jimmy Bruno beat out a bunt single toward third. Graeber then doubled to left, clearing the bases to make it a 5-2 game. With two outs, a passed ball brought Graeber home from third to leave the Roadrunners up, 6-2.
 
A.J. Tropiano and Justin Kilyk were both hit by pitches to open the fourth for the Roadrunners. A failed pickoff at second with one out moved Tropiano to third, and then a sacrifice fly to left by Scotty Young scored Tropiano to make it a 7-2 game. Bruno then laid down another bunt that was thrown away, allowing Kilyk to come all the way home from first for an 8-2 score. A wild pitch then brought Bruno in from third, giving the Roadrunners a 9-2 advantage.
 
Yosmil Diaz drew a one-out walk in the fifth, and then Pedro Crespo singled to left. With two down, Gomez singled to center to bring in Diaz and make it a 9-3 game.
 
An error put De La Mota on base to lead off the sixth. Two straight groundouts left him on third, and then a single by Andres Castro brought him home to bring the score to 9-4.
 
The Roadrunners put together another big rally in the home half of the sixth. They put five runs on the board on four hits in the frame to take a 14-4 advantage.
 
Crespo led off the seventh with a solo homer to center to make it a 14-5 ballgame. Gomez drew a one-out walk, and then De La Mota doubled him in with two down to score another run. Almanzar later singled in De La Mota to bring the score to 14-7.
 
Gloucester had the bases loaded in the home half of the seventh when Bruno drew a walk to put the Roadrunners up by eight. A wild pitch then brought in Sean Brown, and then Graeber homered to center to make it a 19-7 score and end the game via the run rule.
 
Jason Kinnerman picked up the win for the Roadrunners to improve to 5-0 on the season. Samuel Herrera took the loss for Monroe to drop to 2-2.
 
Crespo hit 3-for-3 with a solo homer in the game. De La Mota finished 2-for-4 with three RBIs, three runs, a home run and a double. Gomez went 1-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored. Almanzar batted 2-for-4 with an RBI and a double. Castro knocked in a run in a 1-for-3 effort.
 
The Mustangs head back down to New Jersey on Saturday, April 8, when they visit Mercer County Community College for a doubleheader in West Windsor. Game 1 is set for a 12 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