TYLER, Texas, February 18, 2024 – The Monroe College Mustangs softball team wrapped up its 14-game week in Texas on Sunday with a doubleheader at Tyler Junior College. Monroe dropped both contests, falling 10-7 in Game 1 before a 17-6 defeat in Game 2.
 
GAME 1: Tyler 10, Monroe 7
The Apaches managed to score in every inning of Sunday's opener, taking a two-run lead across the first two frames with a run in each of the first and second inning. The Mustangs got their first run of the day in the top of the third when Marissa Thalassinos hit an RBI single through the right side of the infield to cut the deficit to 2-1 at the time.
 
Tyler extended its lead to 7-1 through four innings before the Mustangs put together a rally in the fifth that got them right back into the game. Thalassinos led off with a walk, and then Angie Ordonez beat out a bunt toward third. Maricela Colon then launched her first home run of the season, a three-run blast to center that made it a 7-4 ballgame. Veronika Anderson kept things going with a one-out single, and then Sarah Wall beat out a bunch that resulted in runners on the corners. A double steal allowed Anderson to come home and make it a two-run game. With two outs, Gabrielle Gonzalez beat out a bunt that brought in one more run, leaving the Mustangs down by just one at 7-6.
 
Tyler once again stretched its lead over the next two innings with two in the fifth and one in the sixth to go up, 10-6. In the top of the seventh, the Mustangs had a runner on second with two outs when Thalassinos beat out a grounder that brought in a hustling Gabrielle Gonzalez to make it a three-run game, but the Mustangs' rally ended there.
 
Makenzie Bohannon picked up the Game 1 win for Tyler with four innings in the circle to improve to 3-0. Sarah Wall took the loss for Monroe after yielding four earned runs across six frames.
 
Colon hit 1-for-4 with her three-run homer in Game 1. Thalassinos batted 2-for-3 with two RBIs, a run and a stolen base. Anderson also went 2-for-3 with a stolen base and a run scored. Gonzalez scored a run and knocked in another in a 1-for-2 effort. Ordonez scored a run and stole a base after going 2-for-5. Georgia Burr scored once in a 1-for-3 outing.
 
GAME 2: Tyler 17, Monroe 6 (5 INN)
Game 2 saw Tyler go up big over the first three innings and never look back. The Apaches put 10 runs on the board in the first inning before scoring four in the second and three in the third to go up, 17-0.
 
In the top of the fourth, Thalassinos got things going for Monroe with a double down the right-field line. She later came home when Ordonez reached on an error. Colon and Amber Miltenberg hit back-to-back singles to bring Ordonez home for the second run of the inning. After a walk by Anderson, a passed ball brought Colon home to make it a 17-3 score. Nathalie Mongrain was hit by a pitch, and then Gabriella Diaz reached on an error to bring Miltenberg home. With one out, Aisling Wilson drew a bases-loaded walk, leaving the Mustangs down, 17-5. Monroe then had first and third in the fifth inning with one out when they attempted a double steal, allowing Colon to score from third for Monroe's sixth run of the game.
 
Kearston Gooch earned the win for the Apaches in Game 2 to improve to 3-1 on the season. Nadyelly Bones took the loss for Monroe.
 
Colon batted 2-for-3 with two runs scored in Game 2. Miltenberg also went 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI. Thalassinos doubled and scored a run in a 1-for-2 effort. Diaz finished 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Anderson scored a run after batting 1-for-2. Mongrain also went 1-for-2 in Game 2.
 
With Texas now in the rear view, the Mustangs head home for a couple days before going right back on the road with a trip to the Carolinas this coming weekend. The three-day, six-game weekend begins on Friday, Feb. 23, when Monroe visits Gaston College in Dallas, N.C. for a rematch of last year's Region 10 Championship. Friday's first game is set to begin at 2 p.m.
 
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