NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., April 6, 2021 – In two games that could not have been more the opposite of each other, the Monroe College Express softball team split a doubleheader with the Monroe College Mustangs Tuesday afternoon at Flowers Park. The Express were dominant in the day's opener, picking up a 15-4, run-rule victory over the Mustangs in Game 1. However, the second game went the other way, with the Mustangs earning a 17-6, run-rule win to close out the day. The Express sit at 1-3 overall now, while the Mustangs move to 1-5.
 
GAME 1: Express 15, Mustangs 4 (5 INN)
Nicole Peralta led off the game for the Express by digging out a double down the right-field line. Geneses Duarte-Suarez was hit by a pitch with one out, then a wild pitch moved both runners up. Paola Calderon then hit a grounder to first that resulted in Peralta being thrown out at the plate for the second out. With both runners in scoring position, Yashira Centeno dropped a single into right-center, scoring both runners to give the Express a 2-0 lead.
 
After the first two Mustangs batted out in the home half of the first, Brianna Nunez singled to keep the inning going. A wild pitch moved her over to second, and then a single to right by Camryn Brooks brought Nunez in to score and cut the deficit in half. Sullyanne Rodriguez then reached on a throwing error by the shortstop, allowing Brooks to come around and score to and tie the game at 2-2.
 
The Express put together a big rally in the top of the second. Arlenny Diaz beat out an infield single to lead off the frame, then Ashleigh Stewart drew a one out walk. With two outs, Zahra Medina walked to load the bases, then a wild pitch brought in Diaz from third to give the Express the lead once again. Duarte-Suarte was hit by a pitch to load the bases again, and a passed ball brought in Stewart to make it a two-run game. Calderon drew another base-on-balls to once again load the bases up, then Centeno ripped a single to right-center, scoring two runs to make it a 6-2 game. Brianna Sydney followed with an RBI single into left to leave the Express ahead, 7-2.
 
Katherine Garcia reached on an error by the shortstop to lead off the second for the Mustangs. After the errant throw left her on second, a sacrifice bunt by Mya Jack moved Garcia to third. Brenda Rodriguez then brought Garcia in on a sacrifice fly to left, bringing the score to 7-3.
 
The Express got things going again in the top of the fourth. Medina and Duarte-Suarez opened the inning with back-to-back singles, and then both moved up on a wild pitch. A dropped fly ball in right allowed Medina to score and push the lead to five. Sydney grounded out with one down, but it was enough to score Duarte-Suarez from third and make it a 9-3 game. Diaz then singled to right-center, scoring Centeno to leave the Express on top, 10-3.
 
Rachel Barker led off the home half of the fourth with a line-drive down the right-field line that just kept rolling, allowing her to touch them all for an inside-the-park home run to bring the score to 10-4.
 
Stewart drew a walk, then Peralta was hit by a pitch to start the top of the fifth for the Express. Duarte-Suarez brought in Stewart with a single with one out to make it an 11-4 game. With two down, Centeno hit a two-RBI single to left-center to push the lead to nine. Sydney then homered over the left fielder to reach the eventual final score of 15-4.
 
Medina had a solid start for the Express, allowing just two earned runs across five innings to earn her first win of the year. Angelina Perez shouldered the loss for the Mustangs to fall to 0-3.
 
Centeno went a perfect 3-for-3 with a ridiculous seven RBIs in the Game 1 victory on Tuesday. She also scored twice. Sydney finished 2-for-4 with a run and four RBIs of her own, including her first homer. Duarte-Suarez scored four times after going 2-for-2, also adding an RBI. Diaz hit 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI, while Medina scored twice and brought in another run after hitting 1-for-3. Peralta finished 1-for-3 with a double and a run.
 
GAME 2: Mustangs 17, Express 6 (5 INN)
Peralta opened the game by reaching on an error, then moved to second on a passed ball. Medina then singled and moved Peralta over to third. A fielder's choice by Duarte-Suarez then knocked in Peralta to give the Express a quick 1-0 advantage.
 
The tables turned quickly in the bottom of the first. Brenda Rodriguez led off with a double to right, then Perez singled to short. Nunez was then hit by a pitch to load the bases. Brooks singled into right, but the ball caromed off the right fielder, allowing all three runners to score and Brooks to end up on third, putting the Mustangs up, 3-1. Garcia later singled through the right side, plating Brooks to make it a 4-1 game. Alfaro drew a walk, and then Letty Chavez-Rendon singled to right to bring in Garcia and push the lead to four. Jack then doubled to center, bringing in Alfaro to make it a 6-1 lead for the Mustangs after one.
 
Medina walked to start the third for the Express. An error from third on a grounder by Duarte-Suarez then allowed Medina to come around and score and make it a 6-2 game. Calderon then reached on an error at second, bringing in Duarte-Suarez to bring the Express within three.
 
The Mustangs turned the momentum right back in their own favor in the bottom of the third. Alfaro beat out a one-out bunt, and an errant throw put her on second. Chavez-Rendon then singled to right to put runners on the corners. Jack singled down the line in left to score Alfaro and make it a 7-3 game. Brenda Rodriguez then doubled into center to bring in Chavez-Rendon for a five-run edge. With the bases loaded later in the frame, Nunez walked to bring in the Mustangs' ninth run. A wild pitch scored Rodriguez to make it a 10-3 score. With two outs and the bases loaded again, an error on a grounder by Garcia resulted in two more runs coming home, leaving the Mustangs ahead, 12-3.
 
The Express tried to chip away in the top of the fourth. They had runners on second and third for Peralta, who doubled them both in to make it a 12-5 ballgame.
 
The Mustangs scored in chunks again in the fourth. Alfaro doubled down the third-base line to lead off the inning. With two outs, Brenda Rodriguez drew a walk, then Perez loaded the bases with a walk of her own. Nunez drew another bases-loaded walk to bring in Alfaro and push the lead back to eight. Brooks then ripped a single into right-center, plating two more runs to put the Mustangs up by 10. Nickoya Lindo then pinch hit, and skied a long fly ball to center, where it was dropped, allowing Nunez and Brooks to score and leave the Mustangs up, 17-5.
 
The Express got one more run back in the top of the fifth. Calderon led off with a walk, then moved to third after a throwing error trying to pick her off at first. She later scored on a ground out to the pitcher by Sydney to reach the final score of 17-6.
 
Naidely Cabrera had a strong outing in the circle for the Mustangs, yielding just two earned runs on two hits in the complete five frames to earn her first victory. Centeno shouldered the loss for the Express in Game 2.
 
Peralta had another solid game, going 1-for-3 with two RBIs, a run and a double in Game 2. Medina hit 1-for-2 with a run scored. Duarte-Suarez and Calderon did not register hits in the game, but each did pick up an RBI and a run apiece.
 
The Express take a trip upstate this weekend for a pair of doubleheaders. The weekend begins on Saturday, April 10, when they visit Monroe Community College in Rochester, N.Y. First pitch of Game 1 is set for 1 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).