BRONX, N.Y., May 1, 2019 – The Monroe Express baseball team fell late to Nassau Community College on Wednesday at Roberto Clemente State Park by the final score of 8-6. With the loss, the Express snap their four-game winning streak and fall to 8-23 (6-13 Region XV), while the Lions move to 14-12 (13-6 Region XV) on the year.
 
With one out in the top of the first, Nick Cavallo gave the Lions a 1-0 lead with a solo home run to right center.
 
The Express came right back to take the lead in the bottom of the frame. A.J. Torres led off with a single and stole second. Juan Jorge followed with a walk, and Emanuel Veras tied the game with an RBI single to right, scoring Torres from second. Jesus Tejada reached on a fielder's choice, before Bianyor Germosen gave the Express a 2-1 lead with an RBI groundout.
 
Nassau tied the game in the top of the third. With one out, John Capozzoli singled to left and stole second. After Cavallo struck out swinging, Michael Iacobellis knocked in Capozzoli with an RBI single to left, tying the game at two.
 
Monroe responded to retake the lead in the bottom of the inning. With two outs, Veras singled and took second on an error. Tejada then singled to right, scoring Veras to give the Express a 3-2 lead.
 
The Express added to their lead in the bottom of the fourth. Devon Marrero led off with a single and stole second. Gorge Garcia then walked and Harold Valdez drew a hit-by-pitch to load the bases. After Anthony Gonzalez Jr. struck out, Torres grounded into a fielder's choice to score a run and extend Monroe's lead to 4-2.
 
After going scoreless for three innings, Nassau broke through in the top of the seventh to tie the game. Jordan Miller and Zach Lelonek drew back-to-back walks to lead off the frame. Capozzoli advanced the runners to second and third with a sacrifice bunt, before Thomas Toscano was hit by a pitch to the load the bases with just one out. Iacobellis grounded into a fielder's choice to score a run, before Lelonek scored on a wild pitch to tie the game at four.
 
But the Express came right back to retake the lead in the bottom of the seventh. Torres led off with a double to center, and Jorge singled, putting runners at first and third. After Jorge stole second and Veras popped up, Nassau intentionally walked Tejada to load the bases. Germosen then smashed a two-run single to right to give Monroe a 6-4 lead.
 
But after a scoreless eighth, the Lions struck for four in the top of the ninth to take the lead. Edward Mata relieved Bryan Diaz, but the Lions quickly loaded the bases with a double, single and walk. Tucker Hahn then cleared the bases with a three-run double to left, giving Nassau a 7-6 lead. Hahn later came around to score on a fielding error, extending the Lions' lead to 8-6.
 
And in the bottom of the ninth, Andrew Williams worked around a one-out single by Veras to close out the victory for the Lions, nailing down his first save of the year.
 
Mata (3-3) took the loss for Monroe, while Zach Lelonek (2-1) earned the win for Nassau.
 
Andy Rodriguez earned the start for the Express, allowing two runs on five hits, walking three and striking out five over 6.0 innings pitched, but took a no-decision.
 
Veras led the Express at the plate, going 3-for-5 with a run scored and RBI. Marrero and Torres each recorded extra-base hits, with Marrero going 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored, while Torres went 2-for-5 with a double, two runs scored and an RBI.
 
The Express will look to bounce back on Thursday, May 2 when they hit the road to take on Raritan Valley Community College in a doubleheader in North Branch, N.J. 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).