FLORENCE, S.C., February 25, 2024 – The Monroe College Mustangs baseball team picked up a big win to open its last day in South Carolina on Sunday before ultimately losing a late lead to split the Mustangs' two games at Dailey Field. Monroe defeated East District foe, and No. 15-ranked Florence-Darlington Technical College, 6-3, but later dropped a 7-5 decision to Patrick & Henry Community College.
 
GAME 1: Monroe 6, #15 Florence-Darlington 3
The Mustangs got the first lead on the Stingers once again in their rematch on Sunday. After three scoreless frames, the Mustangs finally got things going in the fourth. Eli Gries-Smith doubled down the left-field line with one away. With two down, Jose Fernandez doubled to center, bringing Gries-Smith home to give Monroe a 1-0 edge.
 
Still holding a 1-0 lead over the Stingers, the Mustangs gave themselves a lot more breathing room in the top of the seventh. Anthony Fernandez led off with a double down the left-field line, and then Jose Fernandez singled to put runners on the corners. Fraelyn Rosario Pena then beat out a bunt single, bringing in Anthony Fernandez to double the lead. Gilbert Gomez drew a walk to load the bases, and then with one out, Jeremy De La Mota hit a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Jose Fernandez for a 3-0 lead. Pedro Vasquez then delivered the big blow of the inning, a three-run blast to right, leaving the Mustangs on top, 6-0.
 
Those runs proved to be necessary, as the Stingers put together a rally in the bottom of the seventh. Josh Campos led off with a single, and later scored on an RBI single by Ram Kellis. Tyler Kamerer followed with a two-run homer to left, making it a 6-3 ballgame. Devin Mitchell singled to keep the rally going, but a fielder's choice and a strikeout closed out the game with a win for the Mustangs.
 
Brailyn Cruz had a stellar start for Monroe, going 5.2 scoreless frames with four strikeouts and just two hits allowed to earn his first win. Angel Miranda took over in the sixth and earned his first save. Aydin Palmer allowed one run in four innings for the Stingers to take the hard-luck loss.
 
Vasquez finished 1-for-4 with a home run, three RBIs and a run scored in the win. Jose Fernandez batted 2-for-3 with a double, an RBI and a run scored. Pena went 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run as well. Anthony Fernandez and Gries-Smith each doubled and scored a run in matching 1-for-3 outings. De La Mota knocked in a run in a 1-for-2 game.
 
GAME 2: Patrick & Henry 7, Monroe 5
The Mustangs worked to gain an early lead in the top of the first in Sunday's finale. Gries-Smith walked to open the game and then quickly stole second. Urreta followed with a walk, and then an error on a grounder by De La Mota brought Gries-Smith home for the first run of the game. Anthony Fernandez then brought in Urreta on a ground out, which was followed by an RBI single by Vasquez that left Monroe up, 3-0.
 
The Mustangs padded their lead in the top of the third. De La Mota hit a one-out single, stole second, and then moved to third on a passed ball. After Vasquez walked, Keldrin Rodriguez single to right, scoring De La Mota for a 4-0 lead. Jose Fernandez then hit another RBI single to bring Vasquez home and make it a 5-0 advantage for the Mustangs.
 
The game began to turn in the home half of the fifth. The Patriots had two runners on for Laken Tignor, who hit a bases-clearing triple to cut the deficit to three. He then came home on a ground out by Jack Pokorak, dropping Monroe's lead to 5-3 after five.
 
The Patriots kept their momentum going with another rally in the sixth. Their first two batters reached base on a hit-by-pitch and a walk. Kade Abrisz then dropped down a sacrifice bunt, but the runners were hustling the whole way, bringing in a run from second on the play to make it a one-run game. Andrew Barrese then came on with two outs, singling to center to plate another run and tie the game. A failed pickoff at first allowed Barrese to move all the way up to third. Carson McCoy then singled him in to put the Patriots in the lead. Tignor then added one more RBI single, giving the Patriots the 7-5 advantage before they closed things out in the seventh.
 
Emmanuel Ramos got the start and allowed three runs in 4.1 frames with four strikeouts, but he did not factor into the decision. Marcos Santiago shouldered the loss in relief for Monroe. Reliever Reid Driskill earned the win for the Patriots.
 
Vasquez had another strong outing, finishing 2-for-3 with an RBI, a run and a pair of stolen bases. De La Mota scored twice and stole a base in a 1-for-4 outing. Gries-Smith also scored a run after going 1-for-2 with a stolen base and two walks. Jose Fernandez hit 1-for-3 with an RBI and a stolen base. Gilbert Gomez batted 1-for-2 with a double and a stolen base of his own. Rodriguez and Anthony Fernandez each hit 1-for-4 with an RBI.
 
The next time the Mustangs play, it will be on their home turf, as they host Harford Community College in a home-opening doubleheader at Dick Caswell Field in New Rochelle on Saturday, March 2. Saturday's doubleheader will begin at 12 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