PORT CHESTER, N.Y., April 7, 2024 – Playing at an alternate home of Joseph Curtis Recreational Park for the day, the Monroe College Mustangs baseball team edged out a pair of victories over Paramount Academy on Sunday. The Mustangs fought back in both games to pick up one-run victories by scores of 7-6 and 6-5. The wins evened Monroe's record at 15-15.
 
GAME 1: Monroe 7, Paramount 6
Across the first two innings, the Mustangs fell into a deep 6-0 hole. A solo homer in the bottom of the second was Monroe's first run of the day, but the Mustangs were still looking at a five-run deficit.
 
Everything changed in the fourth. Fernandez came through again with an RBI double into left to make it a four-run game. Eli Gries-Smith then doubled in two runs to get within two. Immediately after, Anthony Fernandez blasted a two-run homer, tying the game at 6-6.
 
The Mustangs took the lead for good in the fifth. Pedro Vasquez singled into right, and then got into scoring position with a stolen base. With two down, Jeremy De La Mota plated Vasquez on a double to center, providing what proved to be the game-winning run that gave Monroe a 7-6 lead.
 
Daniel DiEdwards came on in relief for Monroe in the fifth and ended up picking up the win after shutting down all nine batters he faced with three strikeouts.
 
Jose Fernandez batted 2-for-3 with a home run, a double, two RBIs and two runs scored in the win. Anthony Fernandez hit 1-for-3 with a two-run homer. Gries-Smith went 1-for-2 with two RBIs, a double and a run. Vasquez finished 2-for-3 with a run. De La Mota brought in the winning run, going 1-for-2 with a double, an RBI and a run scored. Christian Carratala turned in a 1-for-2 outing.
 
GAME 2: Monroe 6, Paramount 5
The story was much the same for the Mustangs in Game 2 on Sunday. Paramount took a 4-0 lead in the third inning to leave the Mustangs looking up once again.
 
The comeback began in the bottom of the third for Monroe. Diego Urreta stole third, scoring on an error by the catcher on the play to get within three. Shortly after, Jose Fernandez hit his second homer of the day, this time a two-run blast to get Monroe within a run. Gries-Smith later plated De La Mota with an RBI double to tie the game at 4-4.
 
The Mustangs jumped ahead in the fifth. Anthony Fernandez brought Gries-Smith home on a single up the middle, making it a 5-4 game in favor of Monroe. In the sixth, Keldrin Rodriguez padded the lead with a sacrifice fly that brought Vasquez home for a 6-4 lead. The Grizzlies threatened in the top of the seventh after putting two runners in scoring position. A wild pitch brought one of them in and left the tying run on third, but Sammuel Urena struck out the final two batters to hang on for the win.
 
Urena earned the win in relief after going 4.1 frames with just one run allowed on five strikeouts.
 
Vasquez went 2-for-3 with two runs and a double in the win. Urreta doubled twice and walked twice with a run scored in a 2-for-2 effort. Jose Fernandez went 1-for-2 with a two-run homer. De La Mota hit 2-for-3 with a double and a run. Gries-Smith doubled in a 1-for-3 outing, scoring once and plating another run. Anthony Fernandez hit 1-for-4 in Game 2.
 
The Mustangs got right back to it on Monday, April 8, with a nine-inning matchup against Rockland Community College.
 
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