CHESTER, N.Y., March 18, 2019 – The Monroe Express JV baseball team fell to the College of Mount Saint Vincent JV, 13-7, on Monday in their season opener at Frozen Ropes.
 
With Francis Camilo getting the start for the Express, the Dolphins struck first, tagging Camilo for three runs in the top of the first. Anthony Faldetta drew a leadoff walk and scored on Christopher Rodriguez' sacrifice fly to give Mount Saint Vincent a 1-0 lead. Thomas Dunleavy's RBI double another run home, before Dunleavy scored on a groundout to make it a 3-0 lead.
 
Monroe came right back to tie and take the lead in the bottom of the first. Jasson Medina led off with an infield single, stole second and moved to third on Daniel Coradin's single, putting runners at first and third. Coradin stole second to put two runners in scoring position, before Leandro Rodriguez got the Express on the board with a run-scoring single.
 
Alberto Guerrero moved the runners up with a groundout to second, before Key Jimenez cleared the bases and tied the game at three with a two-run double, advancing to third on the throw. Alberto Taveras knocked in Jimenez with an RBI single to give the Express the lead, before Brayan Lara added another run to extend Monroe's lead to 5-3.
 
Aris Ogando relieved Camilo to begin the top of the second, and got Mike Castiglia to line into a double play with a runner on third. But the Dolphins still scratched out two runs on Zachary Saunders single to tie the game at five.
 
Once again though, the Express responded to take the lead in the bottom of the inning. Medina led off the bottom of the second with a double and advanced to third on a wild pitch. After Coradin walked, Monroe executed a double steal to take a 6-5 lead, before Coradin scored on a Dolphins' fielding error to make it a 7-5 advantage.
After a scoreless third, Mount Saint Vincent rallied back to tie the game in the fourth and fifth. Castiglia led off the fourth with a walk, stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch before scoring on Faldetta's sacrifice fly to make it a one-run game.
 
In the top of the fifth with Lara on the hill, Frank Bukovsky's two-out, RBI single made it 7-7, but Coradin caught Jaidon Jimenez trying to score to keep score tied at seven.
 
Both the Express and Dolphins left runners on base in the sixth and seventh, before the Dolphins broke through in the top of the eighth. Castiglia drew a leadoff walk, stole second and moved to third on Faldetta's bunt single, putting the go-ahead run 90 feet away. Anthony Gonzalez Jr. picked off Castiglia at third, but Rodriguez brought home Faldetta on a sacrifice fly to give Mount Saint Vincent an 8-7 lead.
 
And after the Express went in order in the bottom of the eighth, Mount Saint Vincent tacked on five more runs in the top of the ninth, and then shut Monroe down in the bottom of the inning to earn the 13-7 victory.
 
Gonzalez Jr. (0-1) took the loss for Monroe, while Chris Mantione (1-0) earned the win for Mount Saint Vincent. With the loss, the Express fall to 0-1, while the Dolphins move to 1-0.
 
Five different Express players tallied two hits, led by Jimenez, who went 2-for-5 with a double, run scored and two RBI. Coradin went 2-for-3 with two runs scored, two stolen bases and two walks, while Medina went 2-for-4 with a double, two stolen bases, two runs scored and a walk.
 
On the mound, Lara allowed just one run on one hit over three innings pitched, striking out three and walking four.
 
The Express will be back in action on Monday, March 25 when they travel to Palisades Credit Union Park in Pomona, N.Y. to take on Saint Thomas Aquinas Club at 4 p.m.
 
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).