CHESTER, N.Y., March 13, 2019 – The Monroe Express baseball team dropped their season opener to the Orange County Community College Colts, 15-7, on Wednesday at Frozen Ropes.
 
Edward Mata got the start for the Express, allowing a leadoff double to Anthony Abbatine in the top of the first. Abbatine advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on Travis Grogan's grounder, but Mata struck out Ryan Geraghty with the bases loaded to prevent any further damage.
 
The Express came right back to tie things up and take the lead in the bottom of the frame. Devon Marrero led off with a triple, coming around to score and tie the game at one on a throwing error by the right fielder.
 
Juan Jorge followed with a walk, and Alberto De Los Santos reached on a fielder's choice, before Gorge Garcia singled to center, scoring two more to give Monroe a 3-1 lead.
 
Garcia also came around to score on the play, and his line-drive single rolled under the center fielder's glove, giving the Express a 4-1 lead after one.
 
Mata settled down after the first, working around an error in the second, before the Express went 1-2-3 in the bottom of the inning.
 
In the top of the third, Orange County cut the Express' lead to 4-2 on Geraghty's RBI single, Monroe caught Michael Piscitelli trying to take an extra base on the single to end the inning.
 
The Express again went in order in the bottom of the third, before the Colts took the lead in the top of the fourth. After Mata recorded the first two outs, and the Express made a pitching change, Abbatine launched a triple to center and came around to score on an error, cutting the lead to 4-3.
 
Bryan Forgione stole second to put the game-tying run in scoring positon, and Grogan tied the game at five with another triple, scoring on the throw to give the Colts a 5-4 lead.
 
Mata took a no-decision in the first start for the Express, allowing two runs on three hits, striking out and walking two over 3.2 innings pitched.
 
SUNY Orange extended their lead in the top of the fifth. Piscitelli opened the inning with a leadoff double, and Geraghty brought him home with an RBI single. After a pitching change, the Colts had runners on second and third following a hit-by-pitch and a wild pitch, but the Express got Geraghty out at home on Ian Engenito's fielder's choice for the second out of the inning.
 
Samuel Sosa made it 7-4 with an RBI single, but Jason Veras got Jason Bailey to fly out to leave the bases loaded, ending the Colts' threat.
 
The Express quickly responded to tie the game in the bottom of the fifth. With two outs, Jorge reached on an error and stole second and Albert De Los Santos walked to put two-on for Emanuel Veras. Veras launched the Express' first home run of the season, a three-run shot, over the left field fence to tie the game at seven.
 
But Adam Blakesly would hold the Express scoreless the rest of the way, while Orange County retook the lead in the top of the sixth. Joseph McComb drew a leadoff walk, advanced to second on Piscitelli's groundout and scored on Daniel Beri's RBI double to give SUNY Orange an 8-7 lead.
 
The Colts added another in seventh on McComb's sacrifice fly, before breaking out with five in the eighth and one more in the top of the ninth, to take a 15-7 lead. On the other side, Monroe scratched out just three base runners over the final three frames, leading to the Colts' victory.
 
Rodriguez Lucas (1-0) earned the win for the Colts, allowing seven runs (two earned) on three hits over 5.0 innings pitched, while Blakesley earned the save, pitching four scoreless innings in relief. Jason Veras (0-1) took the loss for the Express, allowing six runs on seven hits and three walks over 3.1 innings of relief.
 
With the win, the Colts move to 1-0, while the Express drop to 0-1.
 
Emanuel Veras led the Express at the plate, going 1-for-4 with a home run, run scored and three RBI, while Garcia added two RBI, going 1-for-4 with a run scored.
 
The Express are back in action on Friday, March 15 when they take on the Monroe Mustangs JV in an intra-campus matchup beginning at 3 p.m. at Dick Caswell Field in New Rochelle, N.Y.
 
ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE COLLEGE
The athletic program at Monroe College encompasses a total of 28 teams competing across nine sports. There are 19 varsity and junior varsity programs, as well as club men's and women's rugby, competing on the New Rochelle campus as the Monroe Mustangs (NJCAA Division I). The Monroe Express, based out of the Bronx campus as of the fall of 2017, has nine varsity and junior varsity teams competing at the NJCAA Division III level.

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).