BRENTWOOD, N.Y., April 24, 2019 – The Monroe Express softball team was swept in their doubleheader against the Suffolk County Community College Sharks on Wednesday. Monroe fell, 17-5, in a run-rule shortened five innings in game one, and 15-3, in game two. The Express fall to 3-15 (2-6 Region XV) while the Sharks to move to 13-11 (9-1 Region XV) on the year.
 
GAME 1: SUFFOLK COUNTY 17, MONROE 5 (5)
With four runs on five hits, the Sharks took the lead in the bottom of the first. Gianna Venuti led off with a single to left and advanced to third on a wild pitch. After Alena Thompson walked, Heather Cicinnati brought Venuti home with another single to right, giving Suffolk County a 1-0 lead.
 
Later in the inning, the Sharks loaded the bases for Delaney Kane, who drilled a single to right, scoring two to increase SUNY Suffolk's lead to 3-0. Summer Roos followed with another RBI single, and the Sharks led, 4-0, after one.
 
The Express got on the scoreboard in the top of the second. Raileni Amarante drew a leadoff walk and moved to second on Jasmeilyn Garcia's groundout. After Kimberly Reyes struck out, Jannill Abreu Rodriguez hit a double to right, scoring Amarante to cut Suffolk's lead to 4-1.
 
But SUNY Suffolk came back with eight runs on six hits in the bottom of the frame, highlighted by back-to-back, run-scoring triples from Cicinnati and Sabrina Burrus to extend their lead to 12-1.
 
Monroe answered with four runs in the top of the third. Yejeiri Frias led off with a bunt single, and took third on Zahra Medina's double to center. Jesiuska Cabral's two-run single brought both runners home, before Yesennia Baez' single put runners on first and third. Cabral and Baez then executed a double steal, cutting the Sharks' lead to 12-4. Baez would later come around to score on a wild pitch, making it a 12-5 lead for Suffolk County.
 
But once again, the Sharks responded, this time scoring five runs on three hits in the bottom of the fourth. And after the Express left two base runners on in the top of the fourth, Hannah Longboat worked around a two-out walk in the top of the fifth to finish off the run-rule victory for SUNY Suffolk.
 
Reyes (0-2) took the loss for Monroe, while Longboat (4-7) earned the win for Suffolk County.
 
Cabral and Medina each tallied two hits, as Cabral went 2-for-3 with a run scored and two RBI, while Medina went 2-for-3 with two doubles and a run scored.
 
GAME 2: SUFFOLK COUNTY 15, MONROE 3 (5)
After two scoreless innings, the Express struck first in the top of the third. Stephanie Avalo drew a one-out walk, and Frias followed with a single to center. Medina walked to load the bases before Cabral gave the Express the lead with a single to center, plating Avalo from third. Baez added another run with an RBI groundout, extending Monroe's lead to 2-0.
 
Suffolk County though, quickly responded in the bottom of the frame. Cicinnati's bases-loaded double cut the Express' lead to 2-1, and Burrus' two-run double gave the Sharks the lead. SUNY Suffolk added three more runs in the inning on Bailey Rand's RBI single and Kane's two-run double to take a 6-2 lead.
 
The Express scratched out a run in the top of the fourth on Avalo's fielder's choice, scoring Garcia from second, to cut the Sharks' lead to 6-3. But Suffolk County came right back with nine runs on seven hits in the bottom of the inning to take a 15-3 lead.
 
And although Jazmin Rodriguez reached on dropped third strike in the top of the fifth, Roos retired the next two batters to end the inning and give the Sharks a 15-3, run-rule victory.
 
Baez (3-10) took the loss for Monroe, while Roos (1-0) earned the win for Suffolk County.
 
Frias led the Express with two hits, going 2-for-2 with a walk and a run scored, while Avalo, Baez and Cabral each tallied an RBI.  
 
The Express will be back in action on Thursday, April 25 when they host the Sharks in Sophomore Day doubleheader at Flowers Park in New Rochelle, N.Y. beginning at 2 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).