GASTONIA, N.C., February 23, 2024 – The Monroe College Mustangs softball team had a tough first day of its Carolina trip on Friday, dropping both ends of a doubleheader to Gaston College at CaroMont Health Park.
 
GAME 1: Gaston 9, Monroe 1 (5 INN)
After a scoreless first inning, Gaston had a big second to take the game over. The Rhinos' first run came in on a wild pitch, and then a Gabrielle Porterfield double brought in another. Two batters later, Grace Kealy hit a three-run homer to center to make it a 5-0 game. Gaston then hit three straight doubles that brought in another two runs. With the last batter of the inning at the plate and runners on first and third, a throw down to second on a steal attempt got away, allowing one more run to score and leave Gaston up, 8-0.
 
The Mustangs got on the board in the top of the fourth. Marissa Thalassinos hit a leadoff double to left, and then stole third with one out. Maricela Colon then grounded out to short, bringing Thalassinos home to make it an 8-1 ballgame.
 
In the bottom of the fifth, Gracie Brown led off with an infield single, and was then sacrificed over to second. Porterfield then doubled to left, bringing Brown home to make it a 9-1 game and walk it off via the eight-run rule.
 
Abigail Gawlinski went all five innings for Gaston to earn the win and improve to 8-2. Sarah Wall took the loss for Monroe.
 
Thalassinos finished 1-for-2 with a double, a run scored and a stolen base in Game 1. Aisling Wilson also hit 1-for-2.
 
GAME 2: Gaston 15, Monroe 1 (5 INN)
The Rhinos got off to an even quicker start in Game 2, putting together a rally in the bottom of the first. An error on a grounder with Porterfield on third allowed her to come home for the first run of the game. Kealy then hit an RBI single to double the lead. With a runner on third, Kendall Bradshaw tripled to right to bring in another run. She then scored on a fielder's choice for a 4-0 Rhino lead. Skye Harrington followed with an RBI double to make it a 5-0 game. An errant throw with a runner advancing on a walk allowed another run to come home for a 6-0 lead for the home team. Two batters later, Layla Manning singled in Gaston's seventh run, and then a passed ball with the bases loaded brought in the eighth run of the inning for Gaston. The bases were loaded again with one out when a Bradshaw ground out to second brought in Manning to make it a 9-0 game.
 
In the second, Porterfield came up with runners on second and third and two outs. She hit a single into center, bringing both runners home to make it an 11-0 lead for the home team. Gaston then had runners on first and second when Kealy singled into left, bringing in Porterfield for a 12-0 lead. A passed ball brought in another run, and then a Bradshaw RBI single made it 14-0 before the inning came to an end.
 
In the top of the third, Kayla Suleski hit a one-out double to right to get things going. She advanced to third on a fly out to right by Thalassinos, and then Gabrielle Gonzalez drew a walk. A double steal attempt saw Suleski come home to make it a 14-1 game, but Gonzalez was tagged out on the play to end the inning.
 
In the home half of the third, Porterfield came through once again for Gaston. With runners on the corners and two outs, she singled to center to bring in Gaston's 15th run of the game.
 
Abigail Brewton earned the win for the Rhinos in Game 2, improving her record to 10-0 on the season. Gabriella Diaz shouldered the loss for the Mustangs.
 
Suleski went 2-for-2 in Game 2, scoring a run and hitting a double in just her second game of the season. Angie Ordonez batted 1-for-2 in the game.
 
The Mustangs will head down to Spartanburg Methodist College on Saturday, Feb. 24, to take on the Pioneers in a doubleheader in Spartanburg, S.C. Tomorrow's first game is set to begin at 1 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