LINCROFT, N.J., April 17, 2024 – Gabriella Diaz was brilliant while the bats were hot for the Monroe College Mustangs softball team on Tuesday, helping the Mustangs defeat NJCAA Div. III No. 7 Brookdale Community College, 12-0, in five innings. Game 2 was then canceled due to inclement weather. The Mustangs improve to 16-23 overall with the win, while the Jersey Blues fall to 10-9.
 
GAME 1: Monroe 12, D3 #7 Brookdale 0 (5 INN)
The Mustangs got off to a quick start in Wednesday's opener. Gabrielle Gonzalez led off the game with a double to left. After she stole third, a sacrifice fly to center by Angie Ordonez brought her home to make it a 1-0 game. Marissa Thalassinos followed with a double, and then Amber Miltenberg walked. Aisling Wilson hit Monroe's third double of the inning to clear the bases and leave the visitors up, 3-0.
 
After a scoreless second, the Mustangs exploded in the third. Thalassinos, Miltenberg and Wilson hit three straight singles to load the bases with nobody out. Veronika Anderson then brought them all home on a double to right to make it a 6-0 score. After a walk by Nathalie Mongrain, Gabriella Diaz helped herself out with an RBI double that brought Anderson home for a 7-0 edge. With two down, Ordonez hit a two-RBI double to left, pushing Monroe's lead to 9-0.
 
The odd innings were gold for the Mustangs in Game 1, as they rallied again in the fifth. Mongrain opened the inning with a single, and then Diaz drew a walk. Gonzalez then beat out a bunt to load the bases. A fielder's choice caught Mongrain at home for the first out, and then the runner at third jumped early for the second out of the frame. Thalassinos then ripped a triple to center, plating two runs to extend the lead to 11-0. Miltenberg then quickly brought her home on a single to left, bringing the score to 12-0 to force the run-rule finish after five frames.
 
Diaz had her best outing of the season in the circle in Game 1. She tossed all five frames, allowing just one hit and no runs with five strikeouts to pick up her seventh victory of the season. Mallory Shevlin took the loss for Brookdale after yielding 12 runs in five innings.
 
Thalassinos finished 3-for-4 with three runs, two RBIs, a triple and a double in Game 1. Gonzalez also went 3-for-4 with two runs, a double and three stolen bases. Miltenberg batted 2-for-3 with two runs and an RBI. Anderson knocked in three runs and scored once after going 2-for-3 with a double. Wilson doubled as well in a 2-for-3 outing, knocking in two runs while scoring once herself. Ordonez plated three runs and scored another in a 1-for-3 game. Diaz gave herself a boost with an RBI and a run in a 1-for-2 effort. Mongrain scored once after hitting 1-for-2.
 
*Game 2 was canceled due to inclement weather*
 
The Mustangs get a day off to travel tomorrow before beginning a two-day, four-game series at WVU Potomac State College this Friday, April 19, in Keyser, W.V. Friday's doubleheader is set to begin at 2 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