NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., April 2, 2021 – The Monroe College Express baseball team got its season off with a bang, defeating the Monroe College Mustangs JV baseball team by a score of 9-2 Friday afternoon at Dick Caswell Field. The Express start their season 1-0, while the Mustangs fall to 0-1.
 
With one out in the top of the first, Chayanne Carty blasted a frozen rope over the right-field wall for a solo homer to give the Mustangs a quick 1-0 edge.
 
With one away in the bottom of the second, Demetrio Rodriguez hit a ground-rule double to deep right. Anthony Burgos then dropped a single into right-center to put runners on the corners. A double steal then got Rodriguez in from third after the throw went down to second, tying the game at 1-1.
 
In the top of the third. Brandon Caceres got things going for the Mustangs with a single up the middle. Anderson Cuello then sacrificed him over to second, and a failed pickoff moved him to third. Isaiah Reyes then roped a double off the top of the fence in left field to bring in Caceres and put the Mustangs back on top, 2-1.
 
Rodriguez reached on an error with one out in the bottom of the third for the Express. Burgos then singled into left, and Alexander Aponte walked to load the bases. Malvin Gutierrez then ripped a double into the gap in left-center, clearing the bases to put the Express ahead, 4-2.
 
Anthony Gonzalez Jr. drew a walk with two down in the bottom of the fourth to keep the inning alive for the Express. He then stole second, allowing him to be singled in by Jalfani Cruz on a line drive to right, pushing the Express lead to 5-2.
 
The Express padded their lead in the bottom of the sixth. With two outs and nobody on, Cruz kept the inning going by getting hit by a pitch. Rodriguez then singled into left, and then both stole a base to get into scoring position. Burgos then singled past the third baseman to bring in both runners and put the Express up by five. Burgos stole second, and then Alexander Aponte doubled into right to bring him in and make it a six-run game. Gutierrez then reached on an error bringing in pinch-runner Andry Castro to reach the eventual final score of 9-2.
 
Chris Dominguez had a strong start for the Express, going the complete seven frames and allowing just four hits and a walk while striking out three batters to earn his first victory. Christopher Gonzalez shouldered the loss for the Mustangs after yielding four earned runs across 3.2 innings, but he managed to strike out nine batters in the loss.
 
Burgos hit 3-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored in the win. Gutierrez finished 2-for-4 with three RBIs and a double. Aponte went 1-for-2 with a double, a run and an RBI. Cruz also knocked in a run and scored another in a 1-for-3 outing. Rodriguez went 2-for-4 with three runs scored and a double.
 
The Express are back in action on Saturday, April 3, when they visit Orange County Community College for a doubleheader in Middletown, N.Y. Game 1 tomorrow is set to begin at 12 p.m.

ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE COLLEGE
The athletic program at Monroe College encompasses a total of 36 teams competing across nine sports. There are 19 varsity and junior varsity programs, as well as club men's and women's rugby, the Monroe College marching band, and the newly added esports program, competing on the New Rochelle campus as the Mustangs (NJCAA Division I). The Monroe Express, based out of the Bronx campus, has 17 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).