NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., May 8, 2018 – Behind a strong start from Francisco Justo and some timely hitting early in the game, the Monroe College baseball team took a 1-0 lead on ASA College in the 2018 Region XV Championship Series on Tuesday after shutting out the Avengers, 5-0, at Dick Caswell Field.
 
The Mustangs struck first in Tuesday's contest, getting their first run across in the bottom of the first. Marquis Orozco beat the shift with a line drive past the third baseman, and then stole second base during the next at bat. Iasid Bernal was hit by a pitch with one out, and then Shadrach Meulens dropped a double past a sliding Louis Winter in right field, bringing in Orozco to give the Mustangs a 1-0 edge.
 
Lenyn Napoleon took the first pitch of the bottom of the second off his arm to reach base. Kevin Garcia then ripped a single up the middle, allowing Napoleon to trot to third and leave runners on the corners without anybody out. With one down, Orozco was hit right in the hip, loading the bases for the Mustangs. Edwin Feliciano Jr. then hit a grounder to the second baseman that got Orozco at second, but Feliciano beat it out to bring in a run and make it a 2-0 game. Bernal then singled into left, and the ball got past the left fielder, allowing both Garcia and Feliciano to score to make it a 4-0 game and leave Bernal standing on third.
 
The bats went silent for both teams until the bottom of the seventh frame. Feliciano singled through the left side with one away. He then moved to second on a wild pitch, and followed that up by stealing third. Bernal then singled him in with a line drive up the gut, pushing Monroe's lead to 5-0 after seven.
 
Justo tossed six innings of shutout baseball, allowing just three hits while striking out eight batters to improve to 8-0 on the season. ASA ace Luis Sanchez Tejada suffered his first loss of the season, falling to 6-1 after allowing five runs (four earned) in seven frames. Monroe reliever Jason Alvarez took over in the seventh, allowing just two hits across three innings with four strikeouts to pick up his seventh save of the year.
 
Bernal batted 2-for-3 with a pair of RBIs to lead the Mustangs at the dish on Tuesday. Orozco went 2-for-4 with a stolen base and a run scored. Garcia finished 2-for-3 with a run scored, while Feliciano hit 1-for-4 with an RBI, two runs and a stolen base.
 
Game 2 of the best-of-five series is set for Thursday, May 10, at Dick Caswell Field. First pitch is set for 3 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).