BRONX, N.Y., April 20, 2018 – An eight-run third inning proved to be too much to overcome, as Monroe Express baseball fell to the Queensborough Community College Tigers, 17-5, in a run-rule shortened six innings on Friday at Roberto Clemente State Park, falling to 0-20 (0-17) on the year.
 
While the Tigers got on the board in the top of the first, taking a 1-0 lead when Elvis Torres came around to score on a wild pitch, Express starter Andy Rodriguez held Queensborough at bay till the third.
 
In the top of the third inning, the Tigers batted around, scoring eight runs on two hits and three Monroe errors, knocking Rodriguez from the game and taking a 9-0 lead.
 
Edwin Santiago cut the deficit to seven with his two-run single to left in the bottom of the inning, and the Express scored two more in the bottom of the fourth, loading the bases and scoring two on Julian Ovalles-Garcia's hit-by-pitch and Harold Valdez's RBI single. But the Express left the bases loaded in the fourth, and trailed 9-4 heading to the fifth.
 
Queensborough scored one in the top of the fifth, extending their lead to 10-4. And after the Express left another two runners on base in the bottom of the inning, the Tigers put together another big inning, scoring seven runs on four hits and two errors in the top of the sixth.
 
The Express came back with a run in the bottom of the sixth, as Devon Marrero was hit by a pitch and scored on an error, but it wouldn't be enough, as Bryan Torres got out of the inning to give Queensborough a 17-5 five-inning, run-rule shortened victory.
 
Rodriguez (0-6) took the loss for the Express, while Torres (4-1) earned the win for the Tigers.
Santiago led the Express at the plate, going 1-for-4 with two RBI, while Alvin Vasquez went 2-for-2 with a walk and a run scored.
 
The Express are back in action on Saturday, April 20 when they take on the Queensborough Community College Tigers in a doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m. at Padavan-Preller Field in Bellerose, N.Y.

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).