FREDERICK, Md., March 26, 2024 – 16 days between games proved to be no problem for the Monroe College Mustangs softball team, as they swept a doubleheader at Frederick Community College on Tuesday. The Mustangs won the opener, 14-3, in six innings, before wrapping up the day with a 13-5 win in five frames. Monroe improves to 8-18 overall with the wins, while the Cougars drop to 2-8.
 
GAME 1: Monroe 14, Frederick 3 (6 INN)
The Mustangs got things going in the top of the second in Game 1. Nathalie Mongrain led off with a walk, and then moved to second on a ground out. Aisling Wilson also walked, and then both runners stole a base to put two in scoring position. With two outs, Kayla Suleski ripped a two-RBI triple to clear the bases and put the Mustangs up, 2-0. Angie Ordonez kept the inning alive with a walk. After she stole second, Marissa Thalassinos brought in both runners with a single, doubling the lead to 4-0.
 
Frederick got halfway back in the bottom of the third. With a runner on third, Avery Sickeri hit an RBI double to make it a 4-1 game. She then scored after two wild pitches advanced her twice, cutting Monroe's lead to 4-2.
 
The Mustangs got those runs right back in the fourth. An error allowed Suleski to reach to lead off the inning. She moved to third on a ground out by Ordonez, and then came home on a single by Thalassinos for a 5-2 lead. A walk by Amber Miltenberg and a single by Veronika Anderson loaded the bases for the Mustangs, and then a walk by Mongrain brought Thalassinos home to leave the Mustangs on top, 6-2.
 
The Cougars got one back quickly in the home half of the fourth. Kaitlin Murphy led off with a walk and then quickly stole second. A single by Brianna Dehoff brought her home to make it a 6-3 ballgame after four.
 
The Mustangs continued to roll in the top of the fifth. Judaiah Gourdine led off with a walk and then quickly swiped second. Suleski then doubled her in to push the lead to 7-3. Ordonez followed with a single to put runners on the corners. Thalassinos then grounded out to the pitcher, but it was enough to bring Suleski home to make it an 8-3 game. With two outs, a passed ball allowed Ordonez to score from third and put Monroe ahead, 9-3.
 
The Mustangs put the game away in the sixth inning. Mongrain and Georgia Burr opened the inning with back-to-back singles. With one out, Gourdine hit another single to load the bases. Suleski then hit another double, plating two runs for an 11-3 lead. With two down, Thalassinos came through again with an RBI single for Monroe's 12th run. Miltenberg then hit a two-RBI double to bring Suleski and Thalassinos home, giving the Mustangs a 14-3 advantage. After another scoreless inning in the bottom of the sixth, the Mustangs forced a run-rule finish to close out Game 1 early.
 
Sarah Wall went all six frames for the Mustangs, allowing just three runs on three hits with a season-high 14 strikeouts to improve her record to 5-7. Mackenzie Murray took the loss for the Cougars after yielding six runs (five earned) in four innings.
 
Suleski had a huge Game 1, finishing 4-for-5 with a triple, two doubles, five RBIs and four runs scored. Thalassinos was terrific as well, going 3-for-5 with five RBIs, two runs and four stolen bases. Ordonez went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and a pair of stolen bases. Mongrain hit 1-for-2 with two runs, an RBI and a stolen base. Gourdine scored twice and stole a base in a 1-for-3 effort. Burr batted 2-for-4 with a run. Wilson hit 1-for-3 with a run scored and a stolen base. Miltenberg knocked in two runs with a double after going 1-for-4. Anderson went 1-for-5 in the game.
 
GAME 2: Monroe 13, Frederick 5 (5 INN)
The Mustangs got off to a quick start in Game 2. Ordonez hit a one-out single to get things going in the top of the first. Miltenberg kept it going with a two-out single, and then Anderson singled in Ordonez for a 1-0 lead. A passed ball then let Miltenberg come home to double the lead at 2-0.
 
The Cougars got one of those runs back in their first at-bat of the game. With one outs and a runner on third, Murray grounded out to third, allowing Sickeri to come home and cut Monroe's lead in half at 2-1.
 
Monroe matched the first inning with another two runs in the second. Burr led off with a single, and then Maricela Colon blasted a one-out, two-run homer to make it a 4-1 lead for the Mustangs.
 
The Mustangs did it again in the third. Miltenberg walked to open the frame, and then Gabrielle Gonzalez came on to pinch run for her and quickly stole second. After a ground out moved her to third, Mongrain singled her in for a 5-1 lead. Burr later brought Mongrain home with an RBI single to leave the Mustangs ahead, 6-1.
 
Ordonez got things going in the fourth for Monroe with a single, advancing to second on an error on the play. After a Thalassinos single, a double steal attempt was successful and brought Ordonez home for a 7-1 lead. Miltenberg then launched a two-run homer, stretching Monroe's lead to 9-1.
 
The Mustangs saved their best for what was ultimately their last at-bat of the day. Wilson hit a one-out triple, and then came home on an RBI single by Colon. Colon scored soon after on a single by Gourdine, who then stole second and later scored on a single by Ordonez. Thalassinos walked to get two on, and then Miltenberg singled in Ordonez for a 13-1 lead.
 
The Cougars put together a late rally to nearly extend the game. They brought in a run on a wild pitch with the bases loaded for a 13-2 score, and then a steal of home made it a 10-run difference. An RBI triple by Sickeri dropped the deficit to nine for the Cougars, and then a sacrifice bunt by Murray brought in Sickeri to make it a 13-5 game. The Mustangs then got the final out they needed to end the game with a run-rule finish after five.
 
Gabriella Diaz tossed a strong four innings in the circle for Monroe, allowing just one run on five hits to earn her third victory of the season. Murphy took the Game 2 loss for Frederick.
 
Ordonez had an unblemished Game 2, hitting 4-for-4 with three runs and an RBI. Colon batted 2-for-3 with three RBIs, two runs and her third home run of the season in the win. Miltenberg went a perfect 3-for-3 with three RBIs and two runs of her own, hitting her first long ball of the season in the game. Burr went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored. Wilson hit 2-for-3 with a triple. Thalassinos scored a run in a 1-for-3 effort. Mongrain plated a run and scored one herself after going 1-for-4. Anderson also batted 1-for-4 with an RBI. Gourdine entered the game late and went 1-for-1 with an RBI and a run.
 
Monroe's doubleheader originally scheduled for this Saturday, March 30, at home in New Rochelle has been switched to an away date at Lackawanna College in Scranton, Pa. Saturday's doubleheader in Pennsylvania will begin at 12 p.m. Monroe and Lackawanna have agreed to swap home dates, so the Mustangs will now host the Falcons on Tuesday, April 16.
 
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