MIDDLETOWN, N.Y., April 3, 2021 – The Monroe College Express baseball team's first road trip of the season resulted in a pair of tough losses to Orange County Community College Saturday afternoon. The Express fall to 1-2 on the year with the losses, while the Colts start their season 2-0.
 
Game 1: Orange 8, Monroe 0 (6 INN)
The Express had a tough time getting things going in their first road game of the season. The Colts jumped out to a 2-0 lead with help from some fielding miscues in the first. The lead grew to 3-0 on a wild pitch in the fifth. A five-run sixth then ended the game via run-rule, with the Colts taking an 8-0 victory.
 
Kenny Sanchez shouldered the loss for the Express despite allowing just one earned run in five innings of work. James McGovern grabbed the win with six shutout innings for Orange.
 
Anthony Burgos hit 2-for-3 for the Express in the loss. Jalfani Cruz went 1-for-3 in the game.
 
Game 2: Orange 19, Monroe 11 (6 INN)
Game 2 had some huge swings back-and-forth, starting right away in the first inning. The Express got the early jump, with Demetrio Rodriguez leading off the game with a single into left. Jose Holguin was then hit by a pitch, and both runners moved up on a ground out by Burgos. Alexander Aponte then doubled to center, bringing in both runners for an early 2-0 lead.
 
The Colts responded with four runs on a two-run triple by Paul Grasso, a passed ball that brought him in, and later, an RBI ground out by Elijah Bontrager, taking a 4-2 lead after one.
 
Anthony Gonzalez Jr. got the Express back on the board in the top of the second with an RBI single that knocked in Jose Arrieta to get the visitors back within a run.
 
The Colts then put together a big rally in the bottom of the third, bringing in six runs to go up, 10-3.
 
The Express showed their resilience by putting together an even bigger rally in the top of the fourth. Andry Castro led off with a single to third, then Arrieta doubled him in to make it a six-run game. Arrieta was able to score on a failed pick off at second that got into the outfield to make it a 10-5 score. Quinn Kilroy beat out an infield single, then Demetrio Rodriguez drew a walk. Holguin then knocked in both runners on a double to left to get the Express within three runs.
 
Burgos kept it going with a double to center to bring in Holguin and make it a two-run difference. Aponte hit the Express' third straight double to score Burgos and get within a run. Malvin Gutierrez then ripped a triple to deep left, scoring Aponte to tie the game. Castro brought him in with a single to center, leaving the Express ahead, 11-10.
 
The tables turned in the bottom of the sixth, as the Colts went on another big run to eventually end the game. The home team scored nine runs in the inning, resulting in a 19-11, run-rule final.
 
Alex Rodriguez Bello shouldered the loss for the Express to fall to 0-1. Nelson Saurez got the win in relief for the Colts to start 1-0.
 
Aponte knocked in three runs with two doubles and a run scored in a 2-for-4 effort. Castro hit 3-for-4 with an RBI, a run and a double. Holguin finished 2-for-3 with two runs, two RBIs and a double. Burgos knocked in a run and scored another in a 2-for-4 game that included a double. Arrieta hit 2-for-3 with two runs and an RBI, as well as another double. Kilroy went 2-for-3 with a run scored. Gutierrez batted 2-for-4 with a triple, a run and an RBI.
 
The Express will look to bounce back when they face off with the Monroe Mustangs JV team on Monday, April 5, at Dick Caswell Field in New Rochelle. Game 1 is set to begin at 3 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).