HOUSTON, Texas, February 11, 2024 – Saturday was a long, crazy day for the Monroe College Mustangs softball team down in Texas. The Mustangs' originally scheduled season opener at Blinn College was canceled, only for the Mustangs to find a new opponent in San Jacinto College to play in the evening. The Mustangs unfortunately lost both contests at San Jacinto, dropping Game 1, 15-7, before a 9-1 loss in Game 2.
 
GAME 1: San Jacinto 15, Monroe 7 (5 INN)
Monroe's season got off to a terrific start in the top of the first of Saturday's first game. Gabrielle Gonzalez led off the season with a single into center, and then Marissa Thalassinos stroked a triple into left to bring Gonzalez home for an immediate lead. Angie Ordonez followed with a bunt single to bring Thalassinos home and double the lead. The Mustangs later loaded the bases, allowing Nathalie Mongrain to bring in a run with a walk to leave Monroe up, 3-0.
 
The Ravens wasted no time getting back in the game. With the bases loaded, the home team drew back-to-back walks to get two runs across and bring the score to 3-2.
 
Things unraveled for the Mustangs in the bottom of the third. A six-hit inning for the Ravens managed to bring eight runs in to give the home team a 10-3 advantage.
 
The Mustangs chipped away in the top of the fourth. With Gabriella Diaz on second, Thalassinos singled into left to bring her home for Monroe's fourth run. Three straight walks then allowed Thalassinos to come home to make it a 10-5 score. Amber Miltenberg followed with a two-RBI single to right to bring the score to 10-7.
 
Saturday's opener came to a quick end in the bottom of the fifth. A two-RBI double and a two-run homer for the Ravens made it a 14-7 game. With a runner on second, Iliana Melendez doubled to center, scoring San Jac's 15th run to end the game via the eight-run rule at 15-7.
 
San Jac reliever Gigi Carrion earned the win after taking over in the first inning. Diaz took her first loss for the Mustangs in Game 1.
 
Thalassinos had a great first game of the season, hitting 2-for-3 with a triple, two RBIs, two runs scored and a stolen base. Miltenberg knocked in two runs and drew two walks to finish 1-for-1. Ordonez went 1-for-2 with two runs, an RBI and a stolen base. Maricela Colon tripled in a 1-for-3 effort. Gonzalez scored a run after going 1-for-3.
 
GAME 2: San Jacinto 9, Monroe 1 (5 INN)
The long day proved to be a challenge for the Mustangs as they headed into Game 2 late Saturday evening. The Ravens got the early jump on the Mustangs with an RBI double from Kylie Hernandez in the bottom of the first that gave the home team a quick 1-0 edge.
 
The Mustangs played small-ball in the top of the second and eventually caught a break to tie the game. Aisling Wilson walked, and then Georgia Burr sacrificed her over to second. Veronika Anderson was hit by a pitch to put two runners on, and then Mongrain laid down a second sacrifice bunt to put both runners in scoring position. A wild pitch then allowed Wilson to score from third and knot things up at 1-1.
 
San Jac got a quick run in the bottom of the third to take the lead once again. Chloe Foster hit a leadoff home run to put the Ravens up, 2-1.
 
The Ravens had runners on first and third in the bottom of the fourth with two outs. Arriana Wright came through for the home team with a double to left, bringing both runners home to leave the Ravens ahead, 4-1.
 
San Jac strung together one more big rally in the bottom of the fifth. A leadoff triple by Madison Carr immediately had things cooking for the Ravens, though she eventually came home on an error. With runners on the corners, another error brought in San Jac's sixth run of the game. The Ravens loaded the bases, and then a pair of walks brought in two more runs to make it an 8-1 game. Carr was back at the plate and initially flew out to center to end the inning, but the umpires eventually put the Mustangs defense back on the field after determining an illegal substitution was made and deciding to replay the at-bat. A wild pitch then brought in the game-ending run, giving the Ravens a 9-1 win after five frames.
 
Destiney Yoder went all five frames for the Ravens to earn the win in Game 2. Sarah Wall had a tough first start of the season to fall to 0-1.
 
The Mustangs and Ravens are set to go at it again on Monday, Feb. 12, in another doubleheader in Houston. Monday's first game is set to begin at 4 p.m. ET (3 p.m. CT).
 
ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE COLLEGE
The athletic program at Monroe College encompasses a total of 28 teams competing across nine sports. There are 20 varsity and junior varsity programs, as well the Monroe College marching band, competing on the New Rochelle campus as the Mustangs (NJCAA Division I). The Monroe Express, based out of the Bronx campus, has seven 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