SUMTER, S.C., April 27, 2018 – The No. 6-seed Monroe College softball team opened up Region X Tournament play on Friday by defeating No. 3 Harford Community College in the opening matchup of the tournament by a score of 6-0 to advance to the winner's bracket. They were then beaten by No. 2 Spartanburg Methodist College (SMC), 6-1, in their second contest. Monroe now faces a win-or-go-home situation for the rest of the tournament, beginning with host USC Sumter on Saturday at 12 p.m.
 
Game 1: Monroe 6, Harford 0
Kimberly Zapata kicked things off with a double to center in the top of the first. She then stole third, and was knocked in shortly after on a one-out single by Chantel Winstead, giving the Mustangs a 1-0 lead.
 
Hanging on to a tight lead, the Mustangs struck again in the top of the fourth. Brianna Martinez doubled with one away, and then moved to third on a groundout by Zapata. Brooke Boechler then singled into left, scoring Martinez to make it 2-0.
 
The Mustangs put two on in the fifth with a single and a walk. Martinez then served up the big blow of the game, a three-run homer to left, pushing Monroe's lead to 5-0.
 
Monroe struck once more in the top of the seventh after putting two runners on. Zapata doubled to right-center, scoring Brianna Casiano to make it a 6-0 game.
 
Brooke Kane bounced back in a big way for the Mustangs in their opener, going the complete seven frames without allowing a run and giving up just five hits while striking out four batters to earn her 10th win of the year. Harford starter Emily Bowler dropped to 8-12 after giving up five runs in five innings.
 
Martinez had one of her best days at the dish of the season on Friday. She hit 3-for-3 with three RBIs, two runs scored, a home run and a double. Winstead batted 2-for-3 with an RBI and two stolen bases. Zapata went 2-for-5 with a pair of two-baggers, an RBI, a run and a stolen base.
                                     
Game 2: Spartanburg Methodist 6, Monroe 1
Monroe managed to strike first once again in their second contest of the day on Friday. Zapata led off the game with a walk, and was then sacrificed over to second by Boechler. Winstead came through with an RBI single up the middle to give the Mustangs the early 1-0 advantage.
 
Things changed in the bottom of the third when the Pioneers loaded the bases. Three runs came in on a pair of bases-loaded walks and a sacrifice fly, putting the home team up, 3-1.
 
The Pioneers put up the rest of their runs in the bottom of the fifth frame. With two on, Kiersten Moore singled to left, knocking in the fourth run of the game for SMC. Kristen Gass then hit a two-RBI single to right, pushing the lead to 6-1.
 
Kane shouldered the loss in Game 2 to fall to 10-11 on the season. SMC starter Charlsy Traylor went the distance to improve to 15-4.
 
Boechler hit 2-for-2 for Monroe, adding a successful sacrifice bunt. Winstead batted 1-for-3 with Monroe's only RBI, while Zapata matched her 1-for-3 game and score the Mustangs' lone run.
 
The Mustangs must now win out to become region champions. The journey continues on Saturday, April 28, when they take on host USC Sumter, the No. 4 seed, at 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).