NEW ROCHELLE, NY — The Monroe College Baseball team ripped 20 hits in their 25-6 victory over Orange County Community College on Sunday. The 25 runs and 20 hits are both season-bests for the team.
Monroe wasted no time getting on the scoreboard with two runs in the first. Wayne Roberts led off the game with a bunt single. Troy Davern followed and made the score 2-0 with his team-best third homer of the season.
The Mustangs got three more runs in the third. Roberts was hit by a pitch. Christopher Palermo and Davern reached via walk, loading the bases. Kevin Garcia made the score 3-0 with an RBI after he was also hit by the pitcher. Shadrach Meulens drove in another run with a fielder’s choice, and Juan Torres made the score 5-0 with a hit that plated Davern.
Monroe made the score 6-0 an inning later when Roberts tripled and scored on a Palermo sacrifice fly. Five more runs in the sixth made the score 11-0. Roberts singled and stole second. He came around on an RBI base hit from Davern. James Smith and Adonis Garcia both walked to load the bases. From there, the score went to 11-0 when Andy Karlan blasted a grand slam to right.
Orange scored four times in the bottom of the sixth to make the score 11-4, but the Mustangs put the game out of reach with seven more runs in the seventh. Marcus Espinal led off the frame with a double and scored on a Roberts single. Monroe loaded the bases again. Adonis Garcia was hit by a pitch resulting in another RBI. Karlan followed with a two-RBI double and the Mustangs led 15-4. The final three runs of the seventh came on two walks and an error.
The Colts scored a single run in the eighth and another in the ninth to finish with six total runs. Monroe was up 18-5 heading into the ninth, during which they scored seven more times. Dawy Lebron connected on the third homer of the game to lead off the frame, also bringing in Juan Torres. Davern drove in another run with a single. Adonis Garcia got a single to account for his second RBI of the game. A Karlan fielder’s choice, a Juan Torres double, and an error account for the final runs, and Monroe went on to win, 25-6.
With the win, the Mustangs improved to 9-10. Davern and Roberts combined to get on base 14 times in the game. They were both perfect at the plate, with Roberts collecting five hits and Davern getting four. They each scored five times as well. Karlan drove in a season-high seven batters.
The Monroe College Baseball team will return to action in New Rochelle on Friday, April 7th, opening a three-game series with ASA College. The two sides will play a single game on Friday and a doubleheader on Saturday.