ALVIN, Texas, February 14, 2024 – The first win of the season and the tenure of head coach Lisa Brooks was earned in Game 1 on Wednesday as the Monroe College Mustangs softball team split a doubleheader at Alvin Community College at Ruth Ryan Softball Field. The Mustangs held on for a 3-2 victory in the opener before dropping a 9-0 decision in Game 2.
 
GAME 1: Monroe 3, Alvin 2
A strong outing by both pitchers in Wednesday's opener led to a scoreless first two frames before Alvin got on the board in the bottom of the third. After a pair of singles eventually led to two runners in scoring position for the Dolphins, Julia Hopkins lined out to center, deep enough to bring home the runner from third on a sacrifice fly and give the home team a 1-0 lead.
 
The Dolphins doubled their lead in the home half of the fourth. A single and a pair of walks loaded the bases with two outs for Alvin, setting up Kasen Morkisch for an RBI infield single to take a 2-0 lead.
 
That lead did not last much longer with the Mustangs rallying in the fifth. The first two batters of the inning did not reach base, but Marissa Thalassinos kept the frame alive with a single to left. Angie Ordonez followed that up with a single to center, and then a single by Aisling Wilson, aided by an errant throw from left, brought Thalassinos home to get the Mustangs a run. Amber Miltenberg then reached on an error by the third baseman, bringing Ordonez home to tie the game at 2-2.
 
In the top of the sixth, Sarah Wall walked with one out, and then Maricela Colon pinch ran for her and quickly stole second base. With two outs, Gabrielle Gonzalez singled into center to keep things moving. With Colon on third, Thalassinos reached on an error by the shortstop, bringing Colon home to put the Mustangs ahead, 3-2.
 
The Dolphins threatened to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh. Alasia Haines led off with a single into right, and then stole second. Hopkins sacrificed her over to third to leave her one base away from tying the game with one out. The Mustangs then caught a huge break, as a foul ball off the bat of Bel Lopez was caught by Georgia Burr in foul territory, but with Haines assuming the ball was going to land foul, she did not tag up, allowing the Mustangs to turn a double play at third and end the game for their first victory of the season.
 
Sarah Wall went all seven innings, striking out seven batters while allowing just two runs on six hits to pick up her first victory of the season. Haley Vinton shouldered the loss for the Dolphins to fall to 2-2.
 
Thalassinos finished 2-for-4 with a run scored and a stolen base in the win. Wilson, Gonzalez and Veronika Anderson all hit 2-for-4 in the game. Ordonez went 1-for-3 with a run. Burr batted 1-for-3 as well, while Miltenberg went 1-for-4. Gonzalez, Miltenberg and Colon all stole a base in the game.
 
GAME 2: Alvin 9, Monroe 0 (5 INN)
Game 2 unfortunately did not go the same route as Game 1. The Dolphins quickly put two runs on the board in the bottom of the first and never looked back. They added another five in the second before tacking on two more in the third to take a 9-0 lead. The home team held onto its nine-run advantage through the top of the fifth to force a run-rule finish.
 
Delaney Gray tossed all five innings to pick up the win for Alvin in Game 2. Gabriella Diaz shouldered the loss for Monroe.
 
Thalassinos and Ordonez each went 1-for-2 in Game 2.
 
With their first win of the season in-hand, the Mustangs will look to add to the win column when they challenge No. 19 Galveston College on Thursday, Feb. 15, in Galveston, Texas. Tomorrow's doubleheader will begin at 1 p.m. ET (12 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