UNION, S.C., February 25, 2024 – The Monroe College Mustangs softball team came away with another split to close out the Carolina trip on Sunday, winning the second of two games in a doubleheader at USC Union. Monroe dropped a close 2-0 decision in Game 1 before bouncing back to win, 9-6, in Sunday's finale.
 
GAME 1: USC Union 2, Monroe 0
All of the scoring in Game 1 took place in the bottom of the third for the Bantams. With runners on second and third after an error. On a sacrifice bunt attempt, the ball was thrown away toward first, allowing the only two runs of the game to come home.
 
Gabriella Diaz pitched well in Game 1, going all six innings without allowing an earned run on just five hits, but shouldered the hard-luck loss. Brianna Compton earned the complete-game victory for the Bantams.
 
Marissa Thalassinos batted 1-for-2 with her third triple of the season. Maricela Colon and Gabriella Diaz each hit 1-for-3 in the game.
 
GAME 2: Monroe 9, USC Union 6
The Mustangs put together a quick two-out rally to open Game 2. After the first two batters of the game failed to reach base, Thalassinos singled to right to keep the inning going. Amber Miltenberg then drew a walk, and Sarah Wall followed with a double to left to bring in the first run of the game. Nathalie Mongrain followed with a single up the middle, bringing in both runners to leave the Mustangs on top, 3-0.
 
Gabrielle Gonzalez led off the second for the Mustangs with a single toward third. After stealing second, she advanced to third on a Kayla Suleski ground out. Angie Ordonez then sacrificed her home, making it a 4-0 lead for Monroe.
 
Abby Benfield hit a leadoff double for the Bantams in the bottom of the second. Two batters later, she came home on a bunt single by Emily Kate Winstead, cutting Monroe's lead to 4-1.
 
With two outs in the top of the third, Mongrain beat out an infield single to third. Colon then came through with an RBI triple to left, putting the Mustangs back up by four runs.
 
The Bantams made the game close in the home half of the third after quickly getting runners on second and third with nobody away. Peyton Morris doubled both runners in to make it a 5-3 game. After a sacrifice bunt, Benfield doubled to right, bringing Morris home to cut Monroe's lead to one.
 
The Mustangs quickly distanced themselves a bit more in the top of the fourth. Suleski hit a one-out single to left, and then stole second. Ordonez dropped a single into left, but Suleski was unable to advance on the play. Thalassinos then flew out to right, allowing Suleski to tag up to third. A successful double steal then brought Suleski home to make it a 6-4 game. Miltenberg followed with and RBI double to leave the Mustangs ahead, 7-4.
 
Colon walked with one out in the top of the fifth, and was then moved up into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by Diaz. Gonzalez brought her in on a single to left, extending Monroe's lead to 8-4.
 
USC Union had a runner on second with two down in the fifth. Winstead then singled to center, bringing in a run on the play, but was then thrown out trying to take second, ending the inning with Monroe still up, 8-5.
 
Ordonez opened the sixth with a single to right. After a ground out moved her to second, Miltenberg singled her in with a hard grounder up the middle, stretching the lead to 9-5.
 
The Bantams tried to make a push back into the game in the bottom of the seventh after opening the inning with two singles. A pair of fielder's choices had the home team down to its final out, but Sophie Caley kept the Bantams' hopes alive with an RBI single to make it a 9-6 score. The Mustangs then got the final out on a ground out to Wall, hanging on for the three-run victory.
 
Wall earned her second win of the season with a complete game in Game 2. Compton got the start again for USC Union, but took the loss this time after allowing seven runs in four frames.
 
Miltenberg totaled two RBIs, a run and a double after going 2-for-3 in the Game 2 victory. Gonzalez went 3-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a run while also stealing two bases. Ordonez hit 2-for-4, scoring twice, knocking in a run and stealing a base. Mongrain went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Colon brought in run and scored once herself in a 2-for-3 outing that included a triple. Wall doubled in a run and scored once herself in a 1-for-4 game. Suleski finished 1-for-5 with a run and two stolen bases. Thalassinos hit 1-for-4 with a run scored in the win.
 
Monroe's next doubleheader will be the team's home opener on Saturday, March 2, when they host Delaware Technical & Community College at the Flowers Park Softball Field in New Rochelle. Saturday's opener is set for a 12 p.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