BEL AIR, Md., February 27, 2018 – The Monroe College baseball team opened the 2018 campaign on Tuesday with a trip down to No. 18-ranked Harford Community College. The Mustangs had a strong all-around effort in Game 1 to pick up a 3-1 victory, but dropped a 12-5 decision to the Fighting Owls in Game 2 after a late rally by the home team. Monroe walks away from opening day with a 1-1 record, while Harford moves to 5-3.
 
Game 1: Monroe 3, No. 18 Harford 1
After stranding two runners in the top of the first, the Mustangs capitalized on another great scoring opportunity in the second. Edgardo Bernard led off the inning with a single to center, and then Troy Davern lined one into right to put runners on first and second. With one away, Gustavo Gonzalez roped a double off the center-field wall to bring in Bernard for the first run of the season. Then, Edwin Feliciano Jr. singled up the middle, plating Davern and Gonzalez to make it a 3-0 game.
 
After a stellar six innings, starter Francisco Justo was replaced by Jay Alvarez to close out the game. Alvarez had a quick hiccup to start the inning, allowing a solo home run to Nolan Charlton to make it a 3-1 game, but he struck out the next two batters and got the third to line out, helping the Mustangs hang on for the win in their first game of the season.
 
Justo tossed six shutout innings for the Mustangs in his first collegiate start to get the win. He struck out an incredible 14 batters in his 18 outs, yielding just three hits. Alvarez allowed one run on one hit, but struck out two batters and held on for his first save of the season. Harford's Truman Thomas shouldered the loss after giving up all three Mustang runs in four innings of work.
 
Feliciano Jr. went 4-for-4 in the win, knocking in two runs. Gonzalez added the other RBI and scored a run after going 1-for-3 with a double. Edgardo Bernard and Troy Davern each went 1-for-3 with a run scored. Marquis Orozco batted 2-for-3, while Lenyn Napoleon hit 1-for-3.
 
Game 2: No. 18 Harford 12, Monroe 5
The Mustangs wasted no time in the first inning of Game 2. Orozco walked with one away, and moved to second on a failed pickoff attempt. Gonzalez walked as well, and then Leandy Castro ripped an RBI double, scoring Orozco from second. Bernard grounded out, and an error by the first baseman allowed Gonzalez to score, making it 2-0 game. Iasid Bernal then singled through the left side, plating Castro for a quick 3-0 lead.
 
Harford responded in the bottom of the first after loading the bases with nobody out. Nick D'Amore then singled through the right side to bring in Harford's first run. Monroe starter Richard Moesker then turned things around, striking out the next three batters to escape without any more damage.
 
With one away in the second, Feliciano Jr. doubled, sending Juan Torres home from second to give the Mustangs a 4-1 edge.
 
Gonzalez and Castro both walked to kick off the top of the third. A wild pitch then moved both runners into scoring position, and a sacrifice fly to right by Bernal brought Gonzalez home, pushing Monroe's lead to 5-1.
 
After a runner got on for the Fighting Owls, Moesker got the next hitting to ground into a double play for the first two outs of the third. Joey Schwartz then singled, and back-to-back doubles by Jake Wyandt and Nick Delp brought in two runs to cut the deficit to 5-3.
 
After the third, neither team got a run across until the bottom of the sixth. In the home half of the inning, Harford managed to bring in nine runs, taking a 12-5 lead that the Fighting Owls would hang on to for the win.
 
Moesker went three frames for the Mustangs, allowing three runs on five hits while striking out six, but he did not factor into the decision. Francisco Perez shouldered the loss after yielding three runs in 2.1 innings. Antonio Buckley got the win for the Fighting Owls after tossing four scoreless innings in relief.
 
Feliciano Jr. capped off a big day by going 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI in Game 2. Gonzalez did as well, going 1-for-2 with two runs scored. Castro knocked in a run and scored one of his own after going 1-for-3 with a double and two walks. Bernal brought in two RBIs in a 1-for-2 effort. Torres scored a run and stole a base after going 1-for-3.
 
Harford was led on offense by Schwartz in Game 2, who went 1-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored. Wyandt hit a double in a 1-for-3 outing, scoring twice and knocking in one more run. D'Amore went 1-for-2 with two RBIs and a run.
 
The Mustangs will get right back to work on Wednesday, Feb. 28, when they visit Mercer County Community College in Trenton, N.J. for another doubleheader. First pitch of Game 1 is set for 12 p.m.
 
ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE COLLEGE
The athletic program at Monroe College encompasses a total of 26 teams competing across nine sports. There are 18 varsity and junior varsity programs, as well as club men's rugby, and the newly added club women's rugby team, competing on the New Rochelle campus as the Monroe Mustangs (NJCAA Division I). The Monroe Express, based out of the Bronx campus, has six teams competing at the NJCAA Division III level as of the fall of 2017.
 
For more information about the Monroe Mustangs, please visit us at www.MonroeCollegeMustangs.com or follow us on social media: Facebook (Monroe College Athletics), Twitter (@Monroe_Mustangs) and Instagram (@monroemustangs).