ALLAMUCHY, N.J., April 18, 2019 – The Monroe Express baseball team fell to the Sussex County Community College Skylanders, 12-2, at Noviskey Field on Thursday in a run-rule shortened eight innings.
 
The Skylanders took the lead in the bottom of the first. Aldo Vallorosi was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. A.J. Torres recorded the next two outs, before Adam Thompson singled to left, putting runners on first and second. Matt Douma followed with another single, scoring Vallorosi to give Sussex County a 1-0 lead, before Derek Sarapuchiello's two-run double made it 3-0.
 
Bianyor Germosen answered with a solo shot to lead off the top of the second inning, cutting the Skylanders lead to 3-1.
 
However, Sussex County came right back with two runs in the bottom of the second, four in the bottom of the third and two more in the bottom of the fourth to take an 11-1 lead.
 
Monroe scored a run in the top of the fifth on Jesus Tejada's RBI single, scoring Harold Valdez from second, but Sussex held the Express scoreless the rest of the way, adding a run in the bottom of the eighth to pick up the 12-2 victory.
 
Torres (1-1) took the loss for Monroe, while Gianni John Pereira (1-1) earned the win for the Skylanders. With the loss, the Express fall to 3-19 on the year, while the Skylanders move to 14-17.
 
Hafel Payano pitched three scoreless innings in relief for the Express, walking two and striking out three.
 
Tejada led the Express at the plate, going 2-for-3 with an RBI, while Valdez and Germosen tallied extra-base hits. Valdez went 1-for-2 with a double and a run scored, while Germosen went 1-for-3 with a solo home run.
 
The Express will be back in action on Friday, April 19 when they travel to Garden City, N.Y. to take on Nassau Community College in a Region XV doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m.
 
ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE COLLEGE
The athletic program at Monroe College encompasses a total of 30 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 11 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).