NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., April 8, 2024 – An early deficit proved to be no problem for the Monroe College Mustangs baseball team Monday evening at Dick Caswell Field, as a huge fourth inning helped lift the Mustangs to a 15-5 run-rule victory over Rockland Community College. The Mustangs improve to 16-15 overall with the win, while the Hawks drop to 8-21.
 
Rockland scored the first four runs of the game across the first four frames to put Monroe at a deficit. The Mustangs then exploded in the bottom of the fourth to take over for good in the game.
 
The Mustangs sent 14 batters to the plate in the fourth, producing seven hits and drawing three walks to eventually put 10 runs on the board. Jeremy De La Mota knocked in the first run with an RBI single, and then came home on a double by Keldrin Rodriguez. Vianney Goris then reached on an error on a grounder down the first-base line, resulting in two runs coming home to tie the game at 4-4. Jose Fernandez plated two more runs with a single up the middle to take a 6-4 lead. A bases loaded walk to Pedro Vasquez made it a 7-4 score. De La Mota reached on a fielder's choice that brought in Fernandez for an 8-4 lead. Rodriguez added an RBI single to go up by five, and then Eli Gries-Smith capped off a 10-run inning with an RBI single into left to leave the Mustangs on top, 10-4.
 
Rockland got a run back in the fifth, but the Mustangs took advantage of what was given to them to extend the lead in their next at-bat. With the bases loaded, Fernandez walked to make it a six-run game. Vasquez then brought in Diego Urreta on a sacrifice fly to extend the lead to 12-5.
 
The Mustangs had the bases loaded again in the sixth. Urreta hit a single to center to plate a run to make it a 13-5 game. Christian Carratala then hit into a double play, but it brought in Anthony Fernandez for a 14-5 lead.
 
Needing just one run in the seventh to end the game, the Mustangs needed just four batters to get the job done. Vasquez was hit by a pitch, and then a De La Mota single moved him to second. Both runners tagged up on a fly out to center by Rodriguez. Gries-Smith then hit a long fly ball to center, bringing Vasquez home to end the game at 15-5.
 
Frangel Rodriguez earned the win after going five frames in Game 1. Orlando Lozada turned in a pair of strong innings in relief, allowing just one hit with two strikeouts. Ryan Murphy shouldered the loss for the Hawks in the game.
 
Gries-Smith went a perfect 4-for-4 with a double, two RBIs and a run in the win. Urreta hit 3-for-5 with two runs scored. De La Mota and Rodriguez both went 2-for-5 with two RBIs and two runs scored, with Rodriguez adding a double. Jose Fernandez finished 1-for-4 with three RBIs and a run scored. Goris scored twice and knocked in a run in a 1-for-2 effort. Carratala batted 1-for-3 with a run. Vasquez did not register a hit, but managed to knock in two runs and score twice after drawing two walks, getting hit by a pitch and hitting a sacrifice fly.
 
The Mustangs will play their next six games on the road, beginning on Wednesday, April 10, with a single game at Brookdale Community College in Lincroft, N.J. Wednesday's matchup is set to begin at 4 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