HOUSTON, Texas, February 13, 2024 – The Monroe College Mustangs softball team lost a late lead after coming back from an early deficit in Game 1 of Tuesday's doubleheader at the University of St. Thomas, falling by a score of 8-7 before dropping an 8-0 final in Game 2.
 
GAME 1: St. Thomas 8, Monroe 7
The Mustangs got off to a really quick start in Game 1 on Tuesday. After Gabrielle Gonzalez led off the game with a walk, Marissa Thalassinos ripped her second triple of the season into left to bring her home and leave Monroe up, 1-0.
 
The lead held until the bottom of the second when the Paige Odenbach brought Maegan Anderson home on a fielder's choice to tie the game at 1-1. Later in the fourth, the Celts struck again when Isabelle Charles hit a two-RBI single to give the home team a 3-1 edge. A single by Izabella Hernandez then brought in one more run to leave the Celts ahead, 4-1.
 
Monroe put its big rally of the day together in the top of the sixth. Georgia Burr led off with a walk, and then Maricela Colon singled into right-center. Sarah Wall then beat out a bunt toward third to load the bases. Gabriella Diaz walked to bring in a run, and then a single by Gonzalez knocked in another to make it a one-run game. Thalassinos then put the Mustangs ahead with a two-RBI single up the gut to make it a 5-4 ballgame. Monroe was not done, as an Aisling Wilson double plated Gonzalez to put the Mustangs up by two. An error on the pitcher on a grounder by Colon allowed one more run to come home for Monroe, leaving the visitors up, 7-4.
 
Hernandez led off the home half of the seventh with a double for the Celts, and then Anderson drew a walk. Celeste Luna singled to load the bases and then Viviana Vargas hit a sacrifice fly to center to score Hernandez and get St. Thomas within two. With two outs, a pinch-hitting Jaelyn Simmons beat out an infield single to bring Anderson home and make it a one-run game. Simmons then stole second to get two runners in scoring position. Gabby Davila then won the game for the Celts, dropping a single into shallow right field to bring both runners home and walk it off with an 8-7 win.
 
Lauren Trott picked up the complete-game victory for the Celts. Sarah Wall took the loss for Monroe.
 
Thalassinos finished 2-for-4 with three RBIs, a run scored and a triple. Wilson hit 2-for-3 with a double, a stolen base and an RBI. Diaz batted 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored. Gonzalez scored twice and knocked in a run in a 1-for-2 effort. Colon and Wall had matching 1-for-4, one-run outings.
 
GAME 2: St. Thomas 8, Monroe 0 (5 INN)
The momentum of Game 1 carried over into Game 2 for the home team on Tuesday. The Celts put five runs on the board in the bottom of the second to take a big lead. They added another three runs in the fourth, giving the Celts an eight-run edge to eventually lead to a run-rule finish after five.
 
Victoria Sossaman went four innings for the Celts to earn the win in Game 2. Diaz took the defeat in the circle for Monroe.
 
Wall batted 1-for-2 with a double after making her first start in right field on Tuesday. Angie Ordonez also went 1-for-2. Each of Thalassinos, Wilson and Veronika Anderson went 1-for-3 in the game.
 
The Mustangs will look to get into the win column tomorrow, Feb. 14, when they visit Alvin Community College in Alvin, Texas. Wednesday's doubleheader is set to begin at 2 p.m. ET (1 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 (@MonroeMustangs) and Instagram (@monroemustangs). Read Full Article