New Rochelle, N.Y., February 23, 2020 – The Monroe College Express baseball program opened the 2020 season on Sunday, splitting a pair of games against Raritan Valley Community College. After losing 11-7 to the Lions in game one, the Express topped Raritan Valley, 5-4, in game two.

Game 1 - Raritan Valley 11, Monroe Express 7

Freshman Luis Rodriguez got the Express on the board first, drilling a solo homer to left field in the second inning. In the fourth inning, Monroe piled up three more runs. Anthony Gonzalez Jr. plated Jose Lebron Santana on an RBI single to put the Express ahead 3-0. Cesar Vasquez followed with a one-out RBI double to right field to score Gonzalez Jr. Rodriguez scored the final run of the inning on RBI groundout by Ludwin Gonzalez.

Raritan Valley scored their first run of the game in the bottom of the fourth as Anthony Carotenuto stole home to get the Lions on the board.

In the fifth inning, the Lions rallied to score 10 runs on seven hits and three errors to jump out to an 11-4 lead. 

The Express managed to score three runs in the top of the sixth. Rey Rodriguez drove in Demetrio Rodriguez and Vasquez on a two-RBI single.

The Express collected 16 hits in the game led by Rodriguez and Santana who each went a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate. Joseph Rosario, Cesar Vasquez, and Kevin Zamora all had multiple hits for the Express, stacking up two apiece. 


Game Two - Monroe Express 5, Raritan Valley 4
The Express took a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Luis Rodriguez drove in the first run on RBI single. On the next at-bat, Joseph Rosario batted home Cesar Vasquez on an RBI single. Rodriguez scored the final run of the inning on a passed ball.

In the second inning, Vasquez scored Juan Jorge on an RBI groundout to take a 4-0 lead. The Lions tallied one run in the bottom of the second, earning a score on a bases-loaded walk, shaving Monroe's lead to 4-1.

In the fourth inning, Eric Quiniones led the inning off with a single through the left side before Rodriguez drove him home on an RBI double to center field to take a 5-1 lead.

Raritan Valley put up two runs on the board in the bottom of the fifth and tallied one more run in the final inning.

Sophomore Brian Espaillat earned the win, striking out five batters and allowing no runs and zero hits in three innings of work. Jorge and Rodriguez each recorded two hits for the Express.

Up next, the Express host Sussex County Community College on Friday, March 3. First pitch is set for 3:00 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