NEW ROCHELLE, NY — The Monroe College baseball team started its long weekend at the Ripken Experience in Myrtle Beach on Thursday, coming away with a pair of victories against Delaware Technical Community College and Northampton Community College. The Mustangs defeated Delaware Tech, 5-0, before picking up a 4-2 win over Northampton. Monroe improves to 6-2 on the season with the wins.
Game 1: Monroe 5, Delaware Tech 0
The Mustangs got a terrific outing by starter Francisco Urena in Game 1, as well as some timely hitting in the middle innings. Lenyn Napoleon walked to lead off the fourth, and stole second with one away in the inning. Juan Torres then singled up the middle, plating Napoleon to take a 1-0 lead. The Mustangs later brought in two more runs on a two-RBI double by Xeno Daal, leaving them up, 3-0.
Gustavo Gonzalez opened the fifth with a walk. Marquis Orozco then singled, and an error by the pitcher allowed him to move to third and score Gonzalez to bring in Monroe’s fourth run. Monroe loaded the bases later in the inning, and Troy Davern beat out an infield single to third, bringing in Napoleon to make it a 5-0 game.
Urena went the complete seven frames for the Mustangs, striking out seven and allowing just four hits and no runs for the shutout victory. He improves to 2-0 on the season with the win. Delaware Tech starter Thomas Heffernan took the loss after giving up five runs in four innings.
Daal knocked in two runs with a double in a 1-for-3 effort. Davern scored a run and knocked in another in a 1-for-3 game. Orozco went 2-for-3.
Game 2: Monroe 4, Northampton 2
The Mustangs got off to a shakier start in Game 2 before bouncing back for the win. Northampton got the first run across in the bottom of the first when Tyler Melko hit a two-out RBI double to give the Spartans a quick 1-0 edge.
Henry Peguero then put the Spartans up 2-0 when he hit a leadoff solo homer in the bottom of the second.
The Mustangs then rallied for all of their Game-2 runs in the top of the third. Javier Ortiz walked with one away, then moved to second on a passed ball with two outs. Joseph Encarnacion then singled through the right side, plating Ortiz to make it a one-run game. Shadrach Meulens then broke it open with a three-run homer to right, putting Monroe up, 4-2, which proved to be the final score.
Antonio Frias earned the win for Monroe to improve to 2-0 on the year. He tossed six innings, allowing two runs on six hits with 12 strikeouts. Edwin Feliciano Jr. made his first appearance on the mound this season, earning the save with a pair of strikeouts in the final inning. Trevor McGee took the loss for Northampton after yielding four runs in six innings.
Meulens lifted the Mustangs to a win in Thursday’s finale after going 1-for-3 with a three-run homer. Encarnacion batted 1-for-4 with an RBI and a run. Michael Crispino scored a run after going 1-for-3.
The Mustangs continue their weekend at the Ripken Experience on Friday, March 16, with back-to-back games against Chesapeake College and Delaware Tech. Game times are set for 12 p.m. and 3 p.m., respectively.
