Keyser, WV – The Monroe University baseball team split its Saturday doubleheader at Potomac State College, falling short of a massive comeback in game one, 13-11, before handling the Catamounts in game two, 5-2, off the back of freshman
Kyle Mandirola.
The Pennsylvania native threw 129 pitches in a masterful complete game in the second leg of the doubleheader. Earning his seventh win of the season, Mandirola struck out eight batters and allowed just two runs on seven hits.
Up 3-1 in the sixth, things got dicey for Mandirola with the bases-loaded and no one out. But after an infield popout, the lefty induced another shallow fly ball to right, allowing the Mustangs to double off the runner from second to end the inning allowing just one run.
Freshmen
Juan Garcia and
Gavin Marchese drove in insurance runs in the seventh with back-to-back sacrifice flies before Mandirola shut down Potomac State with a clean final frame.
Game one saw Monroe fall into a first-inning hole of 12 runs, but they chipped away as the game progressed, ultimately accumulating 11 runs on 14 hits.
Sophomore
Anthony Fernandez was on fire, mirroring sophomore
Ronald Almanzar's statline from yesterday's matchup at Allegany College of Maryland with a 4-for-5 day. Fernandez drove in six runs, including three on a three-run home run to right center in the seventh.
Prior to Fernandez's three-run homer, the Mustangs entered the inning down 13-6. Down to their final out, two singles to center made way for Fernandez's blast to inch closer and closer. With the dugout ignited, Garcia then launched a two-run shot to pull the Mustangs within two.
The comeback would fall short, however, but it marked a sign of things to come prior to Monroe's impressive game two victory. Sophomore
Juan Ramos was solid in limiting the Catamounts after the first inning, allowing just one run thereafter.
Monroe will face-off against the Catamounts twice more on Sunday, with first pitch of the doubleheader scheduled for noon.
ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE UNIVERSITY
The athletic program at Monroe University encompasses a total of 26 teams competing across nine sports. There are 19 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).
