FRANKFORD, Del., April 21, 2024 – The Monroe College Mustangs softball team closed out a six-game weekend road trip with a doubleheader split at Delaware Technically Community College on Sunday. The Mustangs nearly threw a no-hitter in Game 1 before picking up a 5-1 win, but they then lost a late lead in Game 2 to fall, 8-7. The Mustangs come home with a 19-26 record, while Delaware Tech moves to 22-8 overall.
 
GAME 1: Monroe 5, Delaware Tech 1
Game 1 was quiet until the Mustangs finally broke through in the top of the fourth. Amber Miltenberg got the inning started with a double to left, but the next two batters failed to reach base. Maricela Colon hit a two-out single to put runners on the corners, and then Nathalie Mongrain singled in Miltenberg to give Monroe a 1-0 lead.
 
The Mustangs padded their lead in the top of the fifth. Angie Ordonez and Gabrielle Gonzalez both singled to open the frame, and then Marissa Thalassinos drew a walk to load the bases. Miltenberg then brought in Ordonez with a sacrifice fly that made it a 2-0 game. Aisling Wilson brought Gonzalez home on a ground out to short for a 3-0 lead, and then Thalassinos came home on a passed ball to leave the Mustangs up, 4-0.
 
Mongrain singled into right with one out in the sixth. Kayla Suleski then hit a pinch-hit double to right, bringing in Mongrain for a 5-0 advantage.
 
Starter Sarah Wall did not allow a hit through five innings, but Gabriella Diaz came on to relieve her to open the sixth. She kept things rolling for Monroe and did not allow a hit in the sixth. Despite a leadoff walk, Diaz got the next two outs for the Mustangs in the seventh. Delaware Tech then finally ended the no-hitter with a single by Amara Cropper. Natalie Berry followed with another single to load the bases. Jacquelyn Hackett then hit one more single to left, bringing in Delaware Tech's only run of the game before Cropper was thrown out at the plate by Colon, ending the game with a 5-1 win for Monroe.
 
Wall continued a phenomenal week in Game 1. She faced 16 batters in five innings, with only one reaching base on an error. Wall did not allow a hit, a walk or a hit-by-pitch, striking out nine batters to earn her 10th win of the year. Diaz closed out the game, allowing just one run in two innings with three strikeouts. Kinley Elliott took the loss for Delaware Tech to drop to 10-3.
 
Mongrain batted 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored in Game 1. Thalassinos also went 2-for-3 with a run scored. Gonzalez finished 3-for-4 with a run scored and a triple. Ordonez scored a run in a 2-for-4 effort. Miltenberg knocked in a run and scored once herself after hitting 1-for-3 with a double. Colon batted 1-for-3 in the win. Suleski hit 1-for-1 with a pinch-hit RBI double.
 
GAME 2: Delaware Tech 8, Monroe 7
Game 2 saw Delaware Tech get off to a big start. In the bottom of the first, Makenzie Whaley took advantage of having two runners on, hitting a three-run homer, her 11th of the season, to give the home team an early 3-0 advantage.
 
The Mustangs worked their way back from there, beginning with the top of the second. With two outs, Nadyelly Bones kept the inning alive with a double to right. Colon then reached on an error that left runners on the corners. Mongrain then hit a two-RBI single to clear the bases and make it a 3-2 game.
 
Gonzalez led off the third with a double, but was thrown out at third on a grounder to the pitcher by Thalassinos. A failed pickoff by the catcher moved Thalassinos up to second. With two down, Wilson doubled in Thalassinos to tie the game. Bones followed with an RBI single to bring Wilson home, giving the Mustangs a 4-3 lead.
 
Back-to-back triples by Brooklyn Richardson and Whaley tied the game for the home team. Kameron Sockriter then brought in Whaley with a ground out to third, giving Delaware Tech the lead again at 5-4.
 
The Mustangs put runs on the board for the third straight inning in the fourth. Mongrain led off with a single and then advanced to second on a passed ball. With one out, Ordonez singled her in to tie the game at 5-5. With two down, Thalassinos doubled to center, plating Ordonez to put Monroe ahead, 6-5. Miltenberg added one more with a double of her own to left to bring Thalassinos across for a 7-5 advantage.
 
Monroe's lead stuck until a rough sixth inning. After a walk, an errant throw on a pickoff attempt moved the runner all the way to third. A dropped fly ball in left then put another runner on second, but held the lead runner at third. With two outs, a triple by Richardson cleared the bases and tied the game. A wild pitch then brought Richardson home, leaving Delaware Tech on top, 8-7. The Mustangs were unable to make up the run in the seventh, dropping Game 2 by a score of 8-7.
 
Wall took the hard-luck loss in Game 2 after allowing three unearned runs in 3.2 innings. She struck out four batters and allowed just four hits. Sockriter picked up the win in relief for Delaware Tech.
 
Mongrain knocked in two runs and scored once herself in a 2-for-4 outing in Game 2. Wilson and Bones each hit 2-for-4 with an RBI, a run and a double in the game. Thalassinos scored twice with a double and an RBI after hitting 1-for-3. Ordonez went 1-for-4 with an RBI and a run. Miltenberg doubled and brought in a run in a 1-for-4 game. Colon also hit 1-for-4 with a run. Gonzalez finished 1-for-4 as well.
 
The Mustangs get a couple days off before wrapping up the regular season this Wednesday, April 24, with a doubleheader at CCBC Catonsville in Catonsville, Md. Wednesday's twinbill is set to begin at 3 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