NEWTOWN, Pa., April 6, 2023 – A huge offensive day was highlighted by Thanysha Gil hitting for the cycle on Thursday, as the Monroe College Mustangs softball team picked up a doubleheader sweep at Bucks County Community College. Gil completed the cycle in a 26-8 win in Game 1 before securing a 17-3 victory in Game 2. The Mustangs improve to 14-18 overall with the wins.
 
GAME 1: Monroe 26, Bucks County 8 (5 INN)
The Mustangs got off to a huge start in Thursday's opener. Marissa Thalassinos led off the game with a single, Maria Perez was hit by a pitch, and then Zoe Rivera walked to quickly load the bases. With one out, Thanysha Gil drew another walk for Monroe's first run of the day. Shania Thomas then singled to right, plating two runs for a 3-0 lead. With two down, Ashley Ulmschneider drew a walk to load the bases again, and then Ava Gillen was hit by a pitch to plate Thomas to go up by four. Thalassinos drew another walk for a 5-0 lead, and then Perez cleared the bases with a double, leaving Monroe up, 8-0.
 
The run continued for Monroe in the second. Rivera and Angie Ordonez both walked to start the frame, and then Gil blasted a three-run homer to center to make it an 11-0 game. Thomas kept it going with a double to left, and then moved to third on a groundout. Ulmschneider walked and Thalassinos both walked to load the bases up, and then Perez drew another base-on-balls to plate Thomas for a 12-0 advantage. Rivera then doubled to left, plating two more runs to put the Mustangs ahead, 14-0.
 
The Centurions managed to bring a couple runs across in the home half of the second. With two on, Jess Kepner singled in a run, and then two batters later, Regan Crawn hit an RBI double to cut Monroe's lead to 14-2.
 
Monroe had another big inning in the third. Gil led off with a triple to right, and then came home when Thomas reached on an error to make it a 15-2 game. With runners on second and third, Ulmschneider hit a sacrifice fly to center to bring in Thomas. Gillen and Thalassinos both walked, and then a single by Perez plated two more runs to make it an 18-2 score. Rivera walked to load the bases before Ordonez reached on an error that brought in Thalassinos. Gil hit an RBI single to right, and then a fielder's choice by Thomas left the Mustangs with a 21-2 lead.
 
Ulmschneider walked to lead off the fourth for Monroe. A pinch-hitting Varela Cappas drew a walk with one out as well. Rivera reached on a walk with two outs, and then Ordonez singled in Cappas. Gil followed with a double to center to make it a 24-2 lead for Monroe.
 
The Centurions got back on the board in the bottom of the fourth when Madison Croushore hit a two RBI single with two down to make it a 24-4 ballgame.
 
The Mustangs picked up two more runs in the fifth. Thomas led off with a double, and then a pinch-hitting Layla Ramos drew a walk. With one out, Ava Gillen singled to load the bases, and then a groundout by Thalassinos plated Ramos for a 25-4 lead. Perez then singled in Ulmschneider to make it a 26-4 score.
 
Caroline Hansbury hit a two-RBI single in the bottom of the fifth for Bucks County, and then Crawn and Allison Micklo each had RBI singles later in the frame, but it was not enough to keep the game going, as the Mustangs won, 26-8, after five.
 
Mia Colamarino went all five innings to earn her first win of the season in Thursday's opener. Katheryn Hastings took the loss for Bucks County.
 
Thanysha Gil incredibly hit for the cycle in Game 1, producing a single, a double, a triple and a home run in a 4-for-4 effort. She also knocked in six runs and scored twice herself. Perez had a breakout game on Thursday, finishing 3-for-4 with seven RBIs, two runs scored and a double. Thomas went 3-for-5 with two doubles, four RBIs and three runs. Rivera went 1-for-1 with a double, four walks, four runs and two RBIs. Gillen batted 1-for-3 with two runs and an RBI. Ordonez hit 1-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs. Thalassinos scored three times and knocked in two runs after hitting 1-for-2. Ulmschneider went 0-for-1, but drew three walks, scored four times and plated one more.
 
GAME 2: Monroe 17, Bucks County 3 (6 INN)
The Mustangs picked up where they left off to start Game 2. Mya Jack led off with a walk, stole second, and then moved to third on a wild pitch. Perez then brought her in on a sacrifice fly to right to make it a quick 1-0 lead. With two outs, Ordonez and Ramirez were both hit by pitches, and then Rivera doubled to left, plating both runners to go up by three. Ashleigh Stewart walked, and then Ulmschneider doubled to left to bring in two more runs and leave the Mustangs up, 5-0.
 
The Centurions had runners on second and third in the bottom of the first when a groundout by Shana Gugliandolo brought in a run to make it a 5-1 game.
 
Jack once again walked with one out in the second. After she stole second, Perez singled into left to bring her in to push Monroe's lead to 6-1.
 
Ulmschneider hit her second double of the game with one out in the third. Ava Gillen then singled through the left side to bring in a run to go up by six. Jack then reached on an error that brought Gillen home to leave Monroe up, 8-1.
 
Ramirez was on third base in the fourth after singling and advancing on a groundout. Stewart then doubled her in to make it a 9-1 game. Ulmschneider followed with an RBI single to make it a 10-1 score.
 
The Mustangs were close to ending the game in the bottom of the fifth via the run rule, but the Centurions managed to keep the game going. They had two runners on and two outs when Madelyn Hower singled up the middle, but an error in center field allowed two runs to come home and cut the deficit to 10-3.
 
The Mustangs made sure to get the job done in the sixth. Ordonez led off with a walk, and then Ramirez was hit by a pitch. Rivera then doubled them both in to make it a 12-3 game. After a Stewart walk, Ulmschneider doubled for the third time in the game, plating Rivera to go up by 10. Thalassinos pinch hit and drew a walk, and then Jack beat out a single to short to plate Stewart. Two batters later, Calderon cleared the bases with a triple, bringing three more runs home to reach the eventual final score of 17-3.
 
The Mustangs used four pitchers in the Game 2 victory, but Varela Cappas picked up the win in relief after going two scoreless frames. Hastings was handed another loss for the Centurions.
 
Ulmschneider had a big Game 2, finishing 4-for-4 with three doubles, four RBIs and a run. Rivera knocked in four runs as well with two doubles and two runs scored in a 2-for-4 effort. Jack scored three more times and brought in a run after hitting 1-for-3. Calderon finished 1-for-5 with a three-RBI triple. Stewart went 1-for-3 with three runs and a double. Gillen scored once and plated another run in a 1-for-3 outing. Ramirez went 1-for-2 with three runs scored, while Ordonez scored twice after hitting 1-for-2. Perez had two more RBIs in a 1-for-2 game.
 
The Mustangs take the weekend off before playing next at home on Tuesday, April 11, when they host Suffolk County Community College at Flowers Park. Game 1 on Tuesday is set to begin at 4 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