GRAND JUNCTION, Colo., May 30, 2018 – The No. 20-ranked Monroe College Mustangs fell to the San Jacinto-North Gators, 11-1, in a run-rule shortened six innings on Wednesday at Sam Suplizio Field, ending their first JUCO World Series run in program history.
 
After the Mustangs left a pair of baserunners on in the top of the first, San Jacinto took advantage of four Monroe errors in the bottom of the frame to take an early 2-0 lead.
 
Moesker settled down after the first and kept the Gators off the scoreboard over the next three innings, before Monroe got things going offensively in the top of the fifth.
 
Joel Paulino drew a two-out walk to give the Mustangs a baserunner in the top of the fifth. Paulino stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by the catcher before scoring on Gustavo Gonzalez's RBI single, cutting the Gators' lead down to one.
 
Two more walks loaded the bases for Joseph Encarnacion, but Rylan Kaufman struck him out to end the threat, and keep San Jacinto's lead at 2-1.
 
However, the Gators came right back in the bottom half of the fifth, leading off with a double, before a walk and Herbert Iser's RBI single made it 3-1. Moesker retired Trent Franson for the first out of the inning, but the Mustangs made a call to the bullpen with two-on and one out.
 
Luis Grullart relieved Moesker, but a hit-by-pitch and two walks quickly made it a 5-1 lead, before the Mustangs made another pitching change. Jason Alvarez relieved Grullart, with the bases still loaded and just one out, but got a pop-up and a fly out to end the inning.
 
Moesker finished the day allowing five runs (four earned) on six hits, walking four and striking out two.
 
Alvarez, though, ran into trouble in the bottom of the sixth, as San Jacinto further extended their lead. Peter Zimmerman drew a leadoff walk before Sergio Macias launched a two-run home to right field to make it 7-1 Gators.
 
After a pair of baserunners reached, Moises Robles relieved Alvarez, but the Gators added two more to make it 9-1 before he was relieved by Nicholas Gennarelli. But Matt Goodheart followed with a two-run single, making it 11-1 and giving the Gators a six-inning, run-rule shortened victory.
 
Moesker (1-0) took the loss for the Mustangs, while Kaufman (1-0) picked up the win for the Gators.
 
With the loss, the Mustangs finish the season 37-16-1. The Mustangs claimed their fourth-straight Region XV Championship, their first-ever Eastern District Championship and their first JUCO World Series berth in program history. The Mustangs finished the JUCO World Series 1-2, losing to San Jacinto twice and beating Jefferson College, 10-4.
 
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).