NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., April 5, 2021 – After defeating the Monroe College Mustangs JV baseball team last Friday in both teams' season opener, the Monroe College Express baseball team split a doubleheader with the Mustangs Monday afternoon at Dick Caswell Field. The Express were dominant in Game 1, picking up an 11-1, run-rule victory, but dropped a 9-6 final in Game 2. The Express move to 2-3 overall with the split, while the Mustangs go to 1-2.
 
Game 1: Express 11, Mustangs 1 (5 INN)
The Express got the early jump on the Mustangs in Game 1. In the bottom of the first, Jalfani Cruz was hit by a pitch on the first pitch he saw. He then stole second, and moved to third on a balk. Demetrio Rodriguez then grounded out to second, bringing in Cruz from third to give the Express the 1-0 edge.
 
With one out in the bottom of the second, Jose Arrieta ripped a triple into the gap in left-center. Quinn Kilroy then brought him in on a sacrifice fly to center, doubling the Express lead to 2-0.
 
Alexander Aponte led off the bottom of the third with a single up the middle. Jose Holguin then lined a triple to right, bringing in Aponte to make it a three-run game. Arrieta was then hit by a pitch, and while trying to take second, Holguin was caught in a rundown, resulting in the ball being thrown off his helmet and allowing him to score and make it 4-0. Joseph Rosario later hit an RBI ground-rule double to left-center to put the Express up by five. With the bases loaded after a pair of walks, Demetrio Rodriguez hit a line-drive to left that got past the diving fielder, allowing him to touch them all for an inside-the-park grand slam, leaving the Express on top, 9-0.
 
The Mustangs got a run back in the top of the fourth. Angelo Mannichio dropped a single right behind the second baseman, then Luis Villalba singled on a line drive to center. Brandon Caceres and Anderson Cuello were both hit by pitches, bringing in Mannichio to make it a 9-1 game.
 
Aponte led off the home half of the fourth with a walk, moved to second on a balk, and then stole third. Holguin brought him in on a ground out to short to make it a 10-1 score. Arrieta was then hit by a pitch, moved to second on a balk, and then stole third. Kilroy plated Arrieta with a ground out to second to bring the score to 11-1.
 
Arturo Aviles was stellar in his first start for the Express, going the complete five frames and allowing just one run and two hits while striking out seven batters to earn the win. Fermin Soto shouldered the loss for the Express after giving up three earned runs in three innings.
 
Rodriguez finished with five RBIs after going 1-for-3 with a grand slam. Holguin hit 1-for-3 with two RBIs, a run scored and a triple. Arrieta scored three times in a 1-for-1 effort that included a triple of his own. Rosario went 1-for-2 with a double, a run and an RBI.
 
Game 2: Mustangs 9, Express 6
Game 2 got off to a much different start on Monday. Cuello led off the game with a walk, moving all the way to third on a failed pick off during the next at-bat. Arturo Colon then singled him in for a quick 1-0 lead. Luis Villalba later singled in Colon from second to leave the Mustangs up, 2-0.
 
Isaiah Reyes was hit by a pitch with one away in the top of the second. He then stole second, and moved up to third on a wild pitch to get a runner in scoring position for the Mustangs. Henry Velasquez then hit into a fielder's choice that got Reyes at home for the second out. But with two down, Cuello roped a line drive into right-center, deep enough for him to round the bases for an inside-the-park two-run homer that put the Mustangs up, 4-0.
 
The Express began to chip away in the bottom of the second. Holguin hit a one-out double down the right-field line, and then Arrieta reached on an error that moved both runners into scoring position. Kevin Castillo came through with a two-RBI single to right-center to cut the deficit in half.
 
The Mustangs added to their lead in the top of the fourth. Chayanne Carty doubled to lead off the frame. Isaiah Reyes followed two batters later with a two-bagger of his own to score Carty and make it a 5-2 ballgame.
 
The Express responded well in the bottom of the fourth. Aponte led off with a single up the middle, then Holguin drew a walk. Arrieta followed with an RBI single to left to get the Express back within two. With one out and both runners in scoring position, a wild pitch took a good bounce for the Mustangs, and Holguin was caught trying to score for the second out of the frame. Anthony Gonzalez Jr. drew a walk and then moved to second. Rosario then hit a ground between the first and second basement that was fielded by the first baseman, but was then thrown away. Arrieta and Gonzalez both managed to score on the play, but Rosario was then thrown out trying to advance to second, leaving the game knotted up at 5-5 after four.
 
Colon led off the fifth for the Mustangs with a walk, and two batters later, Villalba drew a base-on-balls as well. With two down, Carty doubled down the line in left, bringing in Colon, but Villalba got caught between third and home and was eventually caught on a spectacular effort by Aponte, who picked up a loose ball after the rundown and dove to the plate just before Villalba could get there, leaving the Mustangs up, 6-5.
 
The top of the sixth saw the Mustangs once again add to their lead. Anthony Santana was hit by a pitch to start the frame, and Velasquez hit a one-out single into left field. A walk then loaded the bases, and another walk by John Torres with two down brought in Santana to give the Mustangs a two-run edge. Villalba was then hit by a pitch to make it a three-run difference, and a wild pitch during the next batter scored Cuello from third to leave the Mustangs ahead, 9-5.
 
The Express were able to threaten in the home half of the seventh, their final chance to get back in the game. A dropped fly ball put in play by Cruz immediately put a runner on second for the Express. Demetrio Rodriguez then beat out a grounder to short to leave runners on the corners. A high wild pitch then caromed off the backstop and right back to the catcher, allowing him to get back to the plate in time to prevent Cruz from scoring for the second out of the inning. Rodriguez moved to third on a wild pitch, then Aponte drew a walk. Holguin singled through the hole in between short and third to plate Rodriguez to draw within three, but with the bases loaded later in the frame, the Express were unable to bring any more runs across.
 
Mannichio got the start and went four innings, allowing two earned runs with seven strikeouts to earn the win for the Mustangs in Game 2. Christopher Gonzalez pitched the final three frames, yielding just one unearned run with seven strikeouts of his own to pick up his first save. Jonathan Rivera took the loss for the Express after three innings and three runs allowed in relief.
 
Castillo knocked in two runs in a 1-for-3 effort in Game 2. Arrieta hit 1-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI. Holguin finished 2-for-3 with a run, an RBI and a double. Aponte went 1-for-3 with a run, while Demetrio Rodriguez batted 1-for-2 with a run of his own.
 
The Express will look to get back to .500 on Wednesday, April 7, when they host ASA Brooklyn at Dick Caswell Field. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 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).