BRONX, N.Y., April 14, 2018 – The Monroe Express were swept in their doubleheader against Nassau Community College on Saturday at Roberto Clemente State Park, falling in game one, 11-3 in six innings, and game two, 12-0, in five innings, to drop to 0-18 (0-15) on the season.
 
Game One: Nassau 11, Monroe 3 (6 innings)
Though the Lions took an early lead against the Express in the top of the first, Monroe starter Albert De Los Santos got Luke Lospitalier to ground into a fielder's choice to leave the bases loaded and keep Nassau's lead at just two.
 
De Los Santos worked around another two base runners in the top of the second, but after the Express left the bases loaded in the bottom of the second, Nassau extended their lead in the top of the third.
 
Ali Ghiraz's RBI double extended the Lions' lead to 3-0, but the Express has an answer this time in the bottom of the frame.
 
Devon Marrero led off the bottom of the third and was hit by a pitch, stole second, advanced to third on a throwing error and scored on a balk to cut Nassau's lead to 3-1.
 
Nassau extended their lead back to five with a run in the top of the fourth and two more in the top of the fifth, before the Express got back on the scoreboard in the bottom of the inning.
 
After Joe Wolf replaced Joe Minucci on the hill for the Lions, Marrero walked and again advanced around the base paths, this time scoring on a wild pitch to cut the deficit to four. Julian Ovalles-Garcia followed Marrero around the base paths, scoring on a wild pitch, and Monroe trailed by just three heading to the sixth.
But the Lions tallied five runs on two hits against De Los Santos and Gilberto Rosario in the top of the fifth inning to take an 11-3 lead. And while the Express put two on in the bottom of the sixth, Monroe wasn't able to bring them home and fell, 11-3 in a run-rule shortened six innings.
 
De Los Santos (0-1) took the loss for the Express, while Joe Minucci (1-0) earned the win for Nassau.
 
Marrero scored two of the Express' three runs, going 0-for-1 with a walk, a hit-by-pitch and a stolen base, while Jesus Hilario, Emanuel Veras and Gorge Garcia each recorded a hit.
 
Game Two: Nassau 12, Monroe 0 (5 innings)
Hafel Payano got off to a strong start for the Express on the hill in game two, striking out Marino Sorbara to lead off the first, and leaving the bases loaded to end the inning.
 
But after the Express left a runner on in the bottom of the first, Nassau got to Payano, scoring six runs (two earned) in the top of the second to take a 6-0 lead.
 
The Lions would add six more in the top of the fifth inning, and Andrew Williams shut down the Express in the bottom of the frame to pick up a 12-0, run-rule victory in five innings.
 
Williams (5-0) picked up the win for Nassau, while Payano (0-2) took the loss for the Express. Marrero and Ovalles-Garcia tallied hits for the Express, while Harold Valdez swiped his fifth base of the year.
 
The Express are back in action on Tuesday, April 17 when they take on Queensborough Community College at 4 p.m. at Roberto Clemente State Park in The Bronx.

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 Monroe's Bronx campus has six teams competing at the NJCAA Division III level beginning with their inaugural seasons in the fall of 2017.
 
For more information about the Monroe Express, please visit us at www.MonroeExpress.com or follow us on social media: Facebook (Monroe Express), Twitter (@MonroeExpress) and Instagram (@MonroeExpress).