NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., April 12, 2024 – The Monroe College Mustangs baseball team overcame a late two-run deficit just before the rain ended the game on Friday, resulting in a 6-4 victory over Citius Prep in eight innings at Dick Caswell Field. The Mustangs improve to 17-15-1 with the win.
 
Citius Prep got off to a quick start on Friday. Montas hit a one-out triple, and then came home when Sosa reached on an error, giving the visitors an early 1-0 advantage in the first.
 
The Mustangs quickly erased the deficit in their first at-bat of the day. Diego Urreta led off with a double, and then Pedro Vasquez walked with one out. With two down, Jose Fernandez singled into left, bringing Urreta home to tie the game. Eli Gries-Smith then continued his hot stretch with an RBI single through the left side, scoring Vasquez to give Monroe a 2-1 lead.
 
With two outs in the top of the third, Montas kept the inning alive for Citius with a double to right-center. Sosa then doubled him in, tying the game at 2-2.
 
Montas and Sosa continued to do all the damage for Citius, coming through again for the visitors in the fifth. With a runner on second, Montas hit an RBI single to put Citius up a run. After a failed pickoff allowed Montas to advance to third, Sosa doubled him in, leaving the visitors up, 4-2.
 
Things turned for the better for the Mustangs in the bottom of the eighth. Jose Fernandez led off with a walk, and then Gries-Smith and Anthony Fernandez both singled to load the bases with nobody out. As the skies opened up, back-to-back wild pitches allowed Jose Fernandez and Gries-Smith to score and tie the game. After a walk by Jeremy De La Mota, a passed ball brought in Anthony Fernandez to give Monroe the lead. De La Mota then scored on another wild pitch to make it a 6-4 game. The umpires then decided the weather was too much, eventually calling the game at that point and awarding the Mustangs the win.
 
Sammuel Urena earned the win in relief after tossing three innings, allowing just one hit and no runs with a pair of strikeouts to improve to 3-0 on the season.
 
Urreta batted 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored in the win. Anthony Fernandez went 2-for-3 with a run as well. Gries-Smith went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run in the game. Jose Fernandez finished 1-for-2 with an RBI and a run after also walking twice. Gilbert Gomez turned in a 1-for-3 effort, while Christian Carratala batted 1-for-4.
 
The Mustangs are back at it tomorrow, April 13, when they head to Groton, Conn., to take on UConn Avery Point in a doubleheader. Game 1 on Saturday 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