NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., April 29, 2024 –
Samuel Herrera had a career day on Monday in helping the Monroe College Mustangs baseball team pick up a weather-shortened 7-1 victory over SUNY Sullivan at Dick Caswell Field. Herrera tossed a no-hitter over the game's 6.2 innings in a terrific performance by the sophomore. The Mustangs improve to 28-19-1 overall with the win, while the Generals drop to 19-14.
Herrera was cooking all day long, mowing down batters left and right to give the Mustangs the opportunity to build a lead. The only two baserunners he allowed across the first six frames were on an error and a walk. He ran into some trouble in the seventh before the game was cut short, but still managed to avoid giving up a hit to secure Monroe's first no-hitter since former teammate
Carlos Peguero threw one during the 2023 Region 20 Championship tournament against Hagerstown Community College. Herrera struck out a career-best 14 batters in just 6.2 innings in the shortened game, surpassing his previous high of 10. His 14 strikeouts were also the most by a Mustangs pitcher this season so far. Herrera struck out the side in the first, fourth and sixth innings.
The Mustangs did not waste much time grabbing the lead on Monday.
Jeremy De La Mota hit a one-out single. He then stole second and advanced to third when the throw went into center field.
Eli Gries-Smith then brought him home on a sacrifice fly to right, giving Monroe a quick 1-0 lead on the Generals.
After some quiet innings, the Mustangs got back on the board in the fourth. Gries-Smith beat out a bunt single to the pitcher, and then
Keldrin Rodriguez was hit by a pitch. A single off the pitcher by
Jose Fernandez then loaded the bases. With two outs,
Pedro Vasquez beat out a slow chopper toward third to bring Gries-Smith home to double the lead at 2-0.
Vianney Goris then drew a walk to bring Rodriguez home for a 3-0 lead.
The Mustangs padded the lead in the bottom of the sixth.
Jose Fernandez hit a one-out single to center to get things started. With two down, Vasquez was hit by a pitch to get two on.
Gilbert Gomez then pinch hit for the Mustangs, coming through with a two-RBI double to deep center to make it a 5-0 game.
Fraelyn Rosario Pena then came up in another pinch-hit opportunity, dropping a single into right-center to bring Gomez home for a 6-0 lead. The Mustangs then drew three straight walks, with a base-on-balls drawn by Gries-Smith bringing Pena home for a 7-0 Mustang lead.
The Generals were given a run in the top of the seventh. A pair of hit-by-pitches and a pair of walks brought in Sullivan's first run to make it a 7-1 score. With two outs in the inning, thunder was heard in the distance, causing the game to go into a 30-minute delay. After returning to action, Herrera tossed just a few more pitches before another loud thunderclap, ultimately forcing the game to end with two outs in the top of the seventh, rewarding the Mustangs with the win.
Gries-Smith hit 1-for-2 with two RBIs and a run in the win. Vasquez went 1-for-2 with an RBI and a run.
Jose Fernandez batted 2-for-3 with a run scored. De La Mota scored in a 1-for-3 effort as well. Monroe's two pinch hitters were successful in their only at-bats, with Gomez going 1-for-1 with a two-RBI double and a run scored, while Pena hit 1-for-1 with an RBI and a run.
The Mustangs will play for the fourth straight day tomorrow, April 30, when they visit Lackawanna College for a nine-inning contest in Scranton, Pa. Tuesday's first pitch is set for 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).
