FLORENCE, S.C., February 24, 2024 – The Monroe College Mustangs baseball team had a tough start to its weekend in South Carolina on Saturday, dropping both games on Day 1 of the Stinger Invitational at CarolinaBank Field. Monroe's late comeback bid fell just short in an 11-10 loss to No. 15 Florence-Darlington Technical College, and then the Mustangs dropped a 15-0 final to Patrick & Henry Community College.
 
GAME 1: #15 Florence-Darlington 11, Monroe 10
The Mustangs took advantage of what was given to them to take a quick lead in Saturday's opener against Florence-Darlington. With one out, Diego Urreta, Jeremy De La Mota and Keldrin Rodriguez drew three consecutive walks to load the bases. With two down, Anthony Fernandez picked up Monroe's fourth base-on-balls of the inning to bring De La Mota home and give Monroe an early 1-0 edge over the Stingers.
 
The Mustangs later doubled the lead in the top of the third. De La Mota led off the frame with a solo homer to left, making it a 2-0 lead for Monroe. The lead did not last much longer, though, as the Stingers rallied for five runs in the home half of the third, including a two-run home by Rom Kellis. Kellis then came through again in the fourth for the Stingers with an RBI double to make it a 6-2 game.
 
The Mustangs came storming back in the top of the sixth. De La Mota led off with a walk, and then Keldrin Rodriguez singled to center. Pedro Vasquez then reached on an error by the second baseman that allowed De La Mota to score and make it a 6-3 game. Fernandez followed with a double to right to bring in Rodriguez to get Monroe within two. Eli Gries-Smith singled into center to bring Vasquez home to make it a one-run game. After a pitching chance for Florence-Darlington, Omar Antonio Burgos singled to center to bring in Fernandez and tie the game at 6-6.
 
The Stingers took the lead back in the bottom of the fifth. With runners on first and third, a wild pitch brought in Tyler Kamerer to put the home team up, 7-6. Later in the frame, a ground out by TJ Anderson brought in another run to leave the Stingers up, 8-6.
 
Monroe chipped away at the deficit in the sixth. De La Mota led off with a single, and then Rodriguez doubled to left to get both runners in scoring position. Vasquez then brought in De La Mota on a ground out to second, leaving Monroe down by just a run.
 
Florence-Darlington padded its lead in the home half of the sixth. Kellis hit a one-out triple and then came home on a single by Kamerer with two outs. Mac James then hit a two-run homer, pushing the lead to 11-7 heading to the final frame.
 
Burgos led off the seventh with a walk for Monroe. With two outs and Burgos on second, Urreta doubled to center to bring him home and make it an 11-8 game. De La Mota then blasted his second home run of the game, a two-run shot to left to get Monroe back within a run. That was unfortunately the end of the rally for the Mustangs, as a new pitcher got the final out for the Stingers to narrowly hold on for the win.
 
Jonathan Urena got the win for the Stingers in relief to improve to 1-0, while Zane Davis got the final out to pick up his first save. Marcos Santiago shouldered the loss for the Mustangs in relief.
 
De La Mota had a huge game in the loss, finishing 3-for-3 with two home runs, three RBIs and five runs scored. Fernandez batted 2-for-3 with two RBIs, a run and a double. Burgos went 3-for-3 with a double, an RBI and a run. Urreta scored once and knocked in another run with a double in a 1-for-4 outing. Gries-Smith turned in a 1-for-4, one-RBI effort in Saturday's opener.
 
GAME 2: Patrick & Henry 15, Monroe 0 (6 INN)
After two scoreless innings, the Patriots got the scoring started in the third with four runs, including a three-run homer by Jack Pokorak. Patrick & Henry broke the game open with another five runs in the fifth, none of which came home on a hit. The Patriots then put six more runs on the board in the top of the sixth to eventually force a run-rule finish after six innings.
 
Kyle Fields went all six frames for the Patriots to earn his third win of the year. Daniel DiEdwards shouldered his first loss in four innings of work in Game 2.
 
Urreta picked up all three of Monroe's hits in their second game of the day. He finished 3-for-3 with a double.
 
The Mustangs will have a chance at redemption on Sunday, Feb. 25, when they play Florence-Darlington and Patrick & Henry once again, this time at Florence-Darlington's Dailey Field. Tomorrow's opener against the Stingers is set for a 10 a.m. first pitch.
 
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