BRONX, N.Y., April 17, 2018 – Monroe Express Baseball fell to Queensborough Community College on Tuesday at Roberto Clemente State Park by the final score of 13-4, dropping to 0-19 (0-16) on the season.
 
Jeffrey Cristo got the start for the Express, and although he allowed two runs in the top of the first, Cristo struck out Louis Zollo with the bases loaded to end the Tigers' threat.
 
And while Devon Marrero led off the bottom of the first with a single, and later stole second, the Express were unable to bring him around, and headed to the second down 2-0.
 
Queensborough tacked on two more in the top of the second, and again in the top of the third and fourth to extend their lead out to 8-0, before the Express got going in the bottom of the inning.
 
Edwin Santiago and Jesus Hilario led off the bottom of the fourth with back-to-back doubles to put runners on first and second. After Emanuel Veras groundout out, Leandro Rodriguez reached on a throwing error, bringing Santiago home give the Express their first run of the game. But the Express left the bases load to end the inning, and headed to the top of the fifth, down seven.
 
However, Andy Hernandez, who relieved Cristo after the third, proceeded to shut down the Tigers over the next four frames. Hernandez worked a 1-2-3 fifth, and left runners on base in the sixth, seventh and eighth to keep Queensborough off the scoreboard.
 
And in the bottom of the seventh, the Express were able to take advantage. Albert De Los Santos led off with an infield single, and moved to second on Kelvin Paulino's one-out single before Marrero walked to load the bases for Harold Valdez.
 
Valdez brought a runner home on a fielder's choice, before Santiago crushed a two-run double to center, cutting the deficit to 8-4. Santiago finished the day 2-for-5 with a double, run scored and an RBI.
 
But the Express left another two runners on base, and after a scoreless eighth, Queensborough got to Hernandez, tallying five runs in the top of the ninth to extend their lead to 13-4.
 
Monroe couldn't find an answer in the bottom of the ninth, and fell, 13-4. Cristo (0-2) took the loss for the Express, while Chris Astoske (3-1) picked up the win for Queensborough.
 
In addition to Santiago's career-day at the plate, Hilario went 1-for-3 with a double and a hit-by-pitch, while Marrero went 1-for-2 with three walks, a run scored and a stolen base.
 
The Express are back in action on Friday, April 17 when they take on the Queensborough Community College Tigers 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).