NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., May 1, 2024 – In its final contest of the 2024 regular season, the Monroe College Mustangs baseball team dropped a 10-4 decision to NJCAA Div. III No. 1 Rowan College South Jersey-Gloucester Wednesday afternoon at Dick Caswell Field. The Roadrunners improve to 38-7 overall, while the Mustangs fall to 28-21-1.
 
The Roadrunners took a big lead in the top of the second. RJ Mustaro hit a three-run homer to give the visitors a three-run advantage. Later in the frame, a run came home after an error on a dropped third strike to leave the Roadrunners up, 4-0.
 
Mustaro got the Roadrunners on the board again in both the third and fifth frames. In the third, he grounded out with runners on second and third to bring a runner home for a 5-0 advantage. In the fifth, he brought two runs in with a triple to right-center to make it a 7-0 game. In the sixth inning, a fielder's choice off the bat of Ernesto Polanco brought another run home for the Roadrunners to leave them up, 8-0.
 
The home half of the sixth saw the Mustangs score their first run of the day. With the bases loaded and two outs, Omar Antonio Burgos struck out swinging, but after the third strike was dropped, the pitcher made an error, bringing in Pedro Vasquez to make it an 8-1 game.
 
After another run came home in the top of the seventh for the Roadrunners, Anthony Fernandez drew a bases-loaded walk in the home half of the frame to bring the score to 9-2.
 
Gloucester picked up its 10th and final run of the day in the eighth for a 10-2 lead. In the bottom of the inning, a single to right by Fraelyn Rosario Pena brought Burgos home for a 10-3 score. Keldrin Rodriguez then brought in Vianney Goris with a sacrifice fly to left to reach the final score of 10-4.
 
Orlando Lozada shouldered the loss in the start for the Mustangs on Wednesday. Lucas Hampel earned the win for the Roadrunners in relief.
 
Rodriguez hit 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI in the game. Fernandez knocked in a run and hit a double in a 1-for-3 game. Diego Urreta batted 2-for-3, and then Pena batted 2-for-2 with an RBI and a run after replacing Urreta later in the game. Vasquez went 1-for-3 with a run scored. Gilbert Gomez and Eli Gries-Smith each finished 1-for-5 on the day.
 
With the regular season now in the rear view, the Mustangs turn their focus to this weekend's Region 20 Championship tournament, hosted by Harford Community College in Bel Air, Md., beginning this Friday, May 3. The Mustangs will open the three-team, double-elimination tournament on Friday against WVU Potomac State College at 11 a.m. The loser of that game will then play top-seeded Harford at 2 p.m., while the winner will take on Harford to open Saturday at 11 a.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