BRONX, N.Y., April 7, 2018 – The Monroe Express scored four in the bottom of the sixth and two in the bottom of the seventh to send the game into extra innings, but fell to Bronx Community College, 15-10, on Saturday at Roberto Clemente State Park in game one of the doubleheader, dropping to 0-11 on the year.
 
Game two of the doubleheader was suspended due to darkness with two-on and two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning, with the Express trailing Bronx Community College, 8-5.
 
Game One: Bronx 15, Monroe 10 (8)
After the Broncos took a 1-0 lead, scoring a fielder's choice in the top of the first inning, the Express came right back to tie it in the bottom of the first.
 
Harold Valdez reached on an error to lead off the inning, moved to second on a groundout and scored on Jesus Hilario's RBI double to tie the game at one.
 
Bronx CC scored three in the top of the second and two more in the top of the third, extending their lead to 6-1, before the Express were able to close the gap in the bottom of the third.
 
Valdez walked to lead off the inning, and after Devon Marrero reached on a fielder's choice, Edwin Veras singled to right to put runners at the corners for Hilario. After a pitching change, Hilario picked up his second RBI of the day, scoring Marrero from third, before Julian Ovalles-Garcia made it 6-3 with another RBI single.
 
After yet another pitching change for the Bronx, Albert De Los Santos reached on an error to bring in Hilario and cut the Broncos' lead to 6-4. Hilario finished the game 3-for-5 with a double, run scored and three RBI.
With two runs in the fourth and two more in the fifth, Bronx extended their lead back out to six, before the Express began their comeback in the bottom of the sixth.
 
Ovalles-Garcia drew a walk to lead off the sixth, advanced to second on a wild pitch and third on a passed ball before Raymond Pichardo, pinch-hitting for Alvin Vazquez, walked to put runners on the corners.
 
Jose Santiago singled Ovalles-Garcia home, before Valdez knocked in Victor Hurtado, who pinch-ran for Pichardo, to cut the deficit to four.
 
Santiago and Valdez' double steal made it 10-7, before Hilario picked up his third RBI, knocking in Valdez from third to made it just a two-run ballgame.
 
Kelvin Paulino struck out the side in the top of the seventh, before the Express came to the plate with a chance to tie and send the game into extras, or pick up a walkoff victory.
 
Ovalles-Garcia led off the bottom of the seventh with a double, advanced to third on Edwin Santiago's flyout before scoring on an error to cut the deficit to one. The Express would then load the bases before Marrero drew a bases loaded walk, scoring Michael Ramos to tie the game at 10.
 
However, Ariel Irving Lora got the final two outs of the bottom of the seventh to send the game into extra innings. And after the Broncos scored five in the top of the eighth, Monroe couldn't answer and fell in game one, 15-10.
 
Paulino (0-2) took the loss for the Express, while Irving Lora (2-0) picked up the win for the Bronx.
 
Ovalles-Garcia went 2-for-3 with a double, two walks, two runs scored and an RBI for the Express, while Hilario led the way with his three hits and RBI.
 
In game two, the Express brought the tying run to the plate, down 8-5 in the bottom of the fifth, before the game was suspended due to darkness. The game will be resumed at a later date to be determined.
 
The Express are back in action on Sunday, April 8 when they travel to Selden, N.Y. to finish off their series with Suffolk County Community College with a doubleheader beginning at 12 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 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).