Eunice, LA – The Monroe University baseball team lost on a walk-off two-run home run in the tenth inning of Sunday's series finale against No. 9 LSU-Eunice. Despite outhitting the Bengals, 14-4, the Mustangs couldn't hold on to the lead, ultimately losing, 6-4.
While Monroe lost by the run-rule in all three games prior to Sunday's meeting, it came out with an added ferocity on both the mound and at the plate. Freshman
Jesus Nieves went 4-for-5 on the day. Fellow freshman
Kyle Mandirola, in just his second career start, threw five innings and allowed just one run on one hit.
Although they fell behind 1-0 in the first, the Mustangs kept attacking. It all started with a solo home run by freshman
Juan Garcia — his second homer of the series. A sacrifice fly in the fourth by freshman
Gavin Marchese gave Monroe the lead and they continued to build off that. Freshman
Nair Jamanika singled in Nieves on a frozen rope to left center in the fifth. Then, Nieves singled in freshman
Ryan Marchina to make it a 4-1 game with nine more outs remaining.
Mandirola was pulled for day one starter sophomore
Brailyn Cruz and Cruz delivered in the bottom half of the sixth, but the Bengals began to chip away and eventually tied the game in the eighth.
Monroe had its chance with runners on the corners with one out in the top of the tenth, but the ensuing two batters couldn't bring the runners in, eventually leading to Eunice's walk-off home run.
The Mustangs dropped to 0-6 with the loss, but after the impressive showing on Sunday, a boost to the team's confidence is sure to be in store as they prepare for another road trip to South Carolina. The first of four games in South Carolina will be played on Friday, February 14, at 6:30 pm against East Georgia State College.
ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE UNIVERSITY
The athletic program at Monroe University encompasses a total of 28 teams competing across nine sports. There are 20 varsity and junior varsity programs, as well as the Monroe University 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.MonroeUMustangs.com or follow us on social media: Facebook (
Monroe Mustangs Athletics), Twitter (
@MonroeMustangs) and Instagram (
@monroemustangs).
