SUMTER, S.C., April 25, 2018 – The Monroe College softball team begins its journey toward the 2018 NJCAA Division I National Championship Tournament this weekend, as the Mustangs enter the Region X Championship Tournament as the No. 6 seed. The six-team field consists of the top four teams in Region X, as well as Region XX's Harford Community College and the Mustangs from Region XV.
 
REGION X CHAMPIONSHIP INFORMATION:
Where:
Hosted by USC Sumter
Patriot Park Sportsplex
3440 Declaration Drive
Sumter, SC 29154
 
When:
Friday, April 27 – Sunday, April 29
 
Seeding:
No. 1: Louisburg College (26-8)
No. 2: Spartanburg Methodist College (27-20)
No. 3: Harford Community College (16-20)*
No. 4: USC Sumter (18-17)
No. 5: USC Salkehatchie (21-27)
No. 6: Monroe College (20-17)*
*Out of region
 
MUSTANG LEADERS

BATTING	PITCHING
AVG.: Kimberly Zapata - .450	ERA: Brianna Casiano – 3.43
Runs: Chantel Winstead - 39	Wins: Brianna Casiano – 10
RBI: Kimberly Zapata – 37	Complete Games: Brooke Kane – 16
2Bs: Veronica Casanova – 10	Shutouts: Brooke Kane – 2
3Bs: Kimberly Zapata – 4	Strikeouts: Brooke Kane – 80
HRs: Veronica Casanova – 5	Innings Pitched: Brooke Kane – 124.2
SLG%: Kimberly Zapata - .650
OBP: Kimberly Zapata - .507

 
FAMILIAR FOES
The Mustangs have faced off with two of the tournament's teams this season. Monroe and Harford have gone head-to-head six times this season, with neither team able to sweep the other in a doubleheader. The Mustangs won their season opener at Harford, 14-13, but dropped Game 2 on March 3, 9-8. The next day, Harford claimed an 11-3 win in the opener, but the Mustangs bounced back for an 11-3 win of their own in the day's finale. One more twinbill on April 12 saw the Mustangs take Game 1, 5-3, but fall in the second game, 9-7.
 
Monroe also challenged USC Sumter twice down at the Ripken Experience in Myrtle Beach, S.C. The Mustangs picked up a 7-2 win on March 13 against the Fire Ants, but fell in their final game of the week on March 15, 7-6.
 
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
The winner of this weekend's Region X Championship Tournament will move on to the 2018 District 1 Championship Tournament, which will take place from May 4 to May 6. The District Champion will then advance to the 2018 NJCAA Division I Softball National Championship Tournament, which will be played in St. George, Utah, from May 16 to May 19.
 
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).