NEWTON, N.J., April 19, 2019 – The Monroe Express softball team was swept by the Sussex County Community College Skylanders in their non-conference doubleheader on Friday. The Express dropped game one, 12-2, in a run-rule shortened five innings, before falling just short in game two by the final score of 9-8. Following the doubleheader, the Express sit at 3-13 on the year, while Sussex County moves to 9-11.
 
GAME 1: SUSSEX COUNTY 12, MONROE 2 (5)
With four runs in the bottom of the first and two more in the bottom of the second, the Skylanders took an early lead. Nicole Matlock's two-run double powered a four-run bottom of the first, while Amanda Maxwell's RBI double and Rebecca Riley's RBI single extended the lead to 6-0 in the bottom of the second.
 
Monroe answered with a pair of runs in the top of the third. Yejeiri Frias drew a one-out walk, and Zahra Medina followed with a single to put two runners on. Raileni Amarante smacked two-run single to right, scoring Frias and Medina to cut the Skylanders' lead to 6-2. But Amarante was thrown out trying to stretch the single into a double, ending the inning for the Express.
 
Sussex County answered though with two runs in the bottom of the inning, before scoring four runs in the bottom of the fourth to extend their lead to 12-2.
 
And although Frias reached on an error with one-out in the top of the fifth, Riley got Naraldy Munoz to ground into a double play to end the inning, and give the Skylanders the 12-2 victory.
 
Riley (7-6) earned the win for Sussex County, while Medina (0-3) took the loss for Monroe.
 
Amarante went 1-for-2 with two RBI to lead the way for the Express, while both Frias and Medina scored runs.
 
GAME 2: SUSSEX COUNTY 9, MONROE 8
With Kimberly Reyes getting the start for Monroe, the Skylanders again struck first. In the bottom of the first inning, Heather Sutton and Maxwell hit back-to-back singles, and Amanda Ross' RBI groundout gave Sussex County a 1-0 lead.
 
But Reyes got Peyton Smith to ground into a fielder's choice to leave the bases loaded, keep the Skylanders' lead at just one.
 
The Express took the lead in the top of the third. Jannill Abreu Rodriguez led off the inning with a bunt single, but was caught stealing second. With two outs, Medina singled to short and Jesiuska Cabral doubled, bringing Amarante to the plate with two outs. Amarante singled to right, scoring two to give the Express a 2-1 lead, before Jasmeilyn Garcia legged out an inside-the-park home right to left, extending Monroe's lead to 4-1.
 
Sussex County made a pitching change, but the Express added two more in the inning. Reyes singled to right and Stephanie Avalo walked. A wild pitch moved the runners to second and third. Leana Alonzo reached on a throwing error, bringing home Reyes and Avalo, to give the Express a 6-1 lead.
 
However, the Skylanders responded to cut the Express' lead down to one in the bottom of the inning. Sutton reached on a fielding error to lead off the inning, and Maxwell took advantage of the miscue, doubling to left to score a run. Ross singled to center, putting runners at first and third before Matlock drew a walk to load the bases.
 
Gianna Santiago and Kathryn Szatkiewicz drew two more walks to cut Monroe's lead to 6-4, and Madison Stires followed with a RBI single to make it 6-5.
 
Both teams went scoreless in the fourth and the Express tacked on a few more runs in the top of the fifth. Garcia drew a leadoff walk, and advanced to second on Reyes' groundout. Next, Avalo singled up the middle, scoring Garcia from second to extend the lead to 7-5. Alonzo's single and Abreu Rodriguez' walk loaded the bases for Frias, who singled home another run.
 
Sussex County tied the game in the bottom of the sixth. Sutton and Maxwell led off with back-to-back singles, bringing the game-tying run to the plate. A hit-by-pitch loaded the bases, before a wild pitch brought home Sutton to make it 8-6. Smith reached on a fielder's choice, scoring Maxwell to cut the lead to 8-7, before another wild pitch tied the game at eight.
 
And after the Express left to runners on in the top of the seventh, the Skylanders loaded the bases and walked things off against the Express on Maxwell's hit-by-pitch to pull out a 9-8 victory.
 
Reyes (0-1) took the loss for Monroe, while Brianne Willis (2-3) earned the win for Sussex County.
 
Reyes led the Express with three hits, going 3-for-4 with a runs scored, while Garcia went 1-for3 with a home run, walk, two runs scored and two RBI.
 
Three other Express players also contributed multiple hits, as Medina went 2-for-4 with a walk and a run scored, Avalo went 2-for-3 with a walk, two runs scored and an RBI, and Amarante went 2-for-5 with a run scored and two RBI.
 
The Express will be back in action on Tuesday, April 23 when they travel to Selden, N.Y. to take on Suffolk County Community College in a Region XV doubleheader beginning at 3:30 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).