WAPPINGERS FALLS, N.Y., May 20, 2018 – For the first time in program history, the Monroe College baseball team claimed the 2018 NJCAA Div. I Eastern District Baseball Championship, defeating ASA College, 8-1, on Sunday at Dutchess Stadium, rolling through the tournament with a perfect 3-0 record. The Mustangs will make their first-ever trip to the Junior College World Series, which will be held in Grand Junction, Colo., beginning Saturday, May 26.
 
Edwin Feliciano Jr. kicked off a rally in the bottom of the third with a single into center. Marquis Orozco followed with a line-drive single to right-center that was misplayed, allowing the Mustangs to put runners on second and third. Gustavo Gonzalez then drew a walk to load the bases with nobody out. With one down, Shadrach Meulens hit a fly ball to center, long enough to bring in Feliciano on a sacrifice fly, giving the Mustangs a 1-0 lead.
 
Now with two down in the third, Joseph Encarnacion ripped a single through the left side, scoring Orozco to take a 2-0 lead. Troy Davern then blasted a triple into right-center, bringing in two more runs to leave the Mustangs up, 4-0, after three.
 
Juan C. Ramos hit a one-out double to right to get a rally going for ASA in the top of the fourth. With two down, Dilson Vasquez tripled to left, bringing in Ramos to make it a 4-1 game.
 
Gonzalez led off the home half of the fifth with a double to left. He later moved up to third on a wild pitch. After Meulens drew a walk, Joseph Encarnacion singled into the hole on the right side, bringing in Gonzalez to take a 5-1 lead.
 
The Mustangs loaded the bases after walks to Iasid Bernal and Meulens, as well as a hit-by-pitch for Davern. Diego Arcelay then walked in a pinch-hit opportunity, bringing in Bernal to make it 6-1. Feliciano followed with a single into center, plating two more runs to give the Mustangs an 8-1 advantage.
 
Richard Moesker turned in an incredible performance on the mound for the Mustangs on Sunday. He went the complete nine innings, giving up just six hits and one run while striking out a season-high 13 batters to improve to 7-2 and clinch the championship for Monroe. ASA starter Alfredo Yan took the loss to fall to 2-2.
 
Feliciano finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored in the tournament-clinching win. Gonzalez hit 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored. Davern batted 1-for-3 with a two-RBI triple, as well as a run scored. Encarnacion went 2-for-5 with two RBIs and a run.
 
The Mustangs will now compete in the 2018 Alpine Bank Junior College World Series for the first time in program history. They will open up play on Sunday, May 27, taking on Southern District Champion, and No. 6-ranked San Jacinto-North at 10 a.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).