NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., March 8, 2024 – The Monroe College Mustangs baseball team has seen a resurgence in the team since debuting at home last weekend, with a doubleheader sweep of Mercer County Community College on Friday running Monroe's winning streak at Dick Caswell Field to five straight games. The Mustangs won a 4-2 decision in Game 1 on Friday before an outstanding pitching performance by
Frangel Rodriguez led to a 7-0 win in Game 2. Monroe improves to 7-10 with the wins, while the Vikings drop to 8-4.
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GAME 1: Monroe 4, Mercer County 2
The Mustangs grabbed an early lead in the bottom of the first in Game 1.
Gilbert Gomez led off with a double to the wall in left-center, and then
Diego Urreta drew a walk. Gomez was then caught at third on a double steal attempt for the first out of the inning. With two down,
Keldrin Rodriguez drew a walk, and then
Pedro Vasquez singled up the middle, bringing Urreta home to put Monroe up, 1-0.
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Slade Harrill dropped a bunt down the third-base line to lead off the third for Mercer County with an infield single. Torin McKenzie then tripled into the right-center gap to tie the game at 1-1. Bannon Brazell followed with a liner to left for a sacrifice fly that brought McKenzie home for a 2-1 Vikings lead.
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The Mustangs took back over for good in the bottom of the fourth.
Jose Fernandez led off with a single, and then
Fraelyn Rosario Pena sacrificed him to second. Gomez walked, and then an error put Urreta on base as well to load them up.
Jeremy De La Mota then hit a sacrifice fly to left to score Fernandez and tie the game. Rodriguez followed with a single into right to plate Gomez to put Monroe up a run. Vasquez then doubled down the left-field line, bringing Urreta home to leave the Mustangs on top, 4-2.
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Angel Miranda had a strong outing in Game 1, going 6.2 innings and allowing just two runs while striking out eight batters to improve to 2-0 on the year.
Marcos Santiago came on to get the last batter out for his first save. Colin Bernhard took the loss for the Vikings to fall to 1-1.
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Vasquez finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a double in the win. Gomez and
Jose Fernandez both batted 1-for-3 with a run and a double. Rodriguez and De La Mota each went 1-for-3 with an RBI.
Anthony Fernandez hit 1-for-2 in Game 1.
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GAME 2: Monroe 7, Mercer County 0
Urreta led off the first for Monroe with a single up the gut. Gomez then followed with a single just past the third baseman.
Keldrin Rodriguez then grounded out, but moved both runners into scoring position.
Anthony Fernandez followed with a two-RBI single up the middle to give Monroe a 2-0 lead. De La Mota followed with a ground-rule double to right, and then Vasquez hit another two-RBI single into center to leave the Mustangs up, 4-0, after one.
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Monroe rallied again in the home half of the fourth.
Eli Gries-Smith was hit by a pitch with one down, and then a grounder by Pena saw both runners reach safely. Urreta then singled up the middle, bringing in Gries-Smith for a 5-0 lead. Gomez walked to load the bases, and then
Keldrin Rodriguez doubled to center, bringing in two runs to leave the Mustangs on top, 7-0.
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Starter
Frangel Rodriguez was terrific in Game 2, going all seven innings and allowing just one hit with five strikeouts to improve to 2-1 on the season. Dylan Parsons took the loss for Mercer County to fall to 1-1.
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Urreta batted 2-for-3 with a couple runs and an RBI in the Game 2 victory.
Anthony Fernandez knocked in two runs and scored another in a 1-for-3 effort.
Keldrin Rodriguez and Vasquez had matching 1-for-3, two-RBI games, with Rodriguez's hit being a two-bagger. De La Mota scored a run after going 1-for-2 with a double. Gomez also went 1-for-2 with a run scored.
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With expected inclement weather in the forecast for Saturday, the Mustangs and Vikings elected to push the final two games of their series to Sunday, March 10, at Mercer County in West Windsor, N.J. Sunday's twinbill is set to begin at 12 p.m.
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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.
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For more information about the Monroe Mustangs, please visit us atÂ
www.MonroeCollegeMustangs.com or follow us on social media: Facebook (
Monroe Mustangs Athletics), Twitter (
@MonroeMustangs) and Instagram (
@monroemustangs).