BEL AIR, Md., March 29, 2024 – In a rematch of last weekend's doubleheader at Harford Community College, the Monroe College Mustangs baseball team dropped both ends of a doubleheader on Friday.
 
GAME 1: Harford 8, Monroe 1
Monroe starter Angel Miranda did not allow a hit in the first two innings, but the first hit he gave up in the third proved to be a big one. After a couple walks with one out, Alec Welshans hit a three-run homer to right, giving the Fighting Owls a 3-0 lead after three.
 
With two outs in the bottom of the fifth, the Fighting Owls kept the inning alive with a single and two walks that loaded the bases. Peter Maldonado then hit a ground ball that was misplayed, allowing two runs to come home and give the home team a 5-0 lead.
 
Harford added to its lead once again in the bottom of the sixth. Manny Santana hit a one-out two-run homer to make it a 7-0 game. Later in the frame, Welshans brought in one final run for the Fighting Owls with a sacrifice fly to center, leaving Harford up, 8-0.
 
Jeremy De La Mota led off the seventh with a double for Monroe. He later moved to third on a passed ball, and then came home on a ground out by Jose Fernandez to make it an 8-1 game.
 
Miranda shouldered his first loss of the season in Game 1 after yielding three earned runs on two hits in five innings of work. Joey Colucci went all seven innings for Harford to earn his fourth win.
 
De La Mota finished 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored in Friday's opener. Eli Gries-Smith hit 1-for-3 in the game. Gilbert Gomez and Fraelyn Rosario Pena each stole a base.
 
GAME 2: Harford 12, Monroe 7
Game 2 got off to a rocky start for Monroe after the Fighting Owls brought in five runs in the bottom of the first. The Mustangs worked their way back into the game with a rally in the top of the fourth. De La Mota opened with a single, and then Jose Fernandez reached on an error. Anthony Fernandez followed with a single to load the bases. Gries-Smith added another single through the left side to bring home De La Mota for Monroe's first run. With one out, Christian Carratala grounded out to the pitcher, but it was enough to bring in Jose Fernandez for the second run of the inning. Diego Urreta then brought in two more runs with a single to left, leaving the Mustangs down just a run at 5-4.
 
The Fighting Owls' first two batters reached base in the home half of the fourth, and then Jesse Jaconski brought everyone in with a three-run homer to make it an 8-4 ballgame. Harford had a runner on third with one out later in the frame, bringing its ninth run in on a sacrifice fly by Ehi Okojie.
 
In the bottom of the fifth, a Joey Logano double with a runner on gave the Fighting Owls a 10-4 edge. Welshans then singled in Pagano for an 11-4 lead. With the bases loaded, Yariel Rodriguez was hit by a pitch to make it a 12-4 score.
 
Gries-Smith led off the sixth for Monroe with a double down the right-field line. After a one-out walk by Carratala, Urreta slammed a three-run homer, bringing the score to 12-7, but those unfortunately proved to be the final runs of the day.
 
Samuel Herrera took his first loss of the season for Monroe in Game 2. Tre Benjamin recorded the win for the Fighting Owls.
 
Urreta went 2-for-3 with four RBIs, a run scored and his first home run of the season in Game 2. Gries-Smith was a perfect 4-for-4 with two runs, an RBI, a double and a triple in the game. De La Mota hit 3-for-4 with a run scored. Anthony Fernandez finished 1-for-4 with a run. Carratala did not register a hit, but contributed an RBI and a run after going 0-for-1 with a pair of walks.
 
The Mustangs are back on the road this coming Tuesday, April 2, when they visit SUNY Sullivan for a doubleheader in Loch Sheldrake, N.Y. Tuesday's twinbill is set to 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