NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., April 7, 2021 – The Monroe College Express baseball team dropped a 17-6 final to ASA Brooklyn Wednesday afternoon at Dick Caswell Field. The Express fall to 2-4 with the loss, while the Avengers improve to 1-4.
 
The Express had a tough time throwing strikes in the top of the first, allowing the Avengers to score a few runs without any hits. Esteban Perez walked for ASA, then moved to second on a passed ball. He took third on a wild pitch, and a throw to third got away, allowing him to score and make it a 1-0 game. Two more walks and a hit-by-pitch loaded the bases, and then two more walks brought in two more runs to leave the Avengers ahead, 3-0.
 
The Express were able to get on the board as well in the home half of the first. Demetrio Rodriguez led off with a single to right, then a ground out by Jose Arrieta moved him to second. Jose Holguin singled to right, putting runners on the corners for the Express, and then a wild pitch scored Rodriguez from third to make it a 3-1 game.
 
The Avengers opened the second with a walk, a single and a hit-by-pitch to load the bases. With one out, Edwin Guerrero then knocked in two runs on a single into center, putting ASA ahead, 5-1.
 
Joseph Rosario got the bottom of the second off to a good start with a double down the third-base line. Alex Rodriguez was then hit by a pitch. Kevin Castillo hit a line drive to left that was dropped by the left fielder, allowing Rosario to score and get the Express within three. Two batters later, Demetrio Rodriguez grounded out to second, but it was enough to bring in Alex Rodriguez from third to leave the Express trailing, 5-3, after two.
 
Ivan Santos hit a one-out single up the middle for the Avengers in the top of the fourth. Eusebio Dilone then grounded out to second to move Santos to second. A wild pitch moved him to third, and then Edwin Guerrero singled between third and short to plate Santos and put the Avengers back up by three, 6-3.
 
Santiago Vega was hit by a pitch to start the top of the fifth for the Avengers, then moved to second on a wild pitch. He stole third with one away, then scored when Perez singled up the middle to make it a 7-3 game. Luis Cordero drew a walk, then the Avengers got two runners in scoring position after a wild pitch. Santos then hit a ground-rule double to right, bringing in both runners to push the lead to 9-3. Dilone then singled in Santos to leave the Avengers ahead, 10-3.
 
Jose Lojo walked to open the sixth for the Avengers, and then a pinch-hitting Robin Dotel tripled into the gap in right-center to bring in Lojo and make it an 11-3 game. Later in the frame, pinch hitter Victor Guerrero single through the right side, scoring Dotel to push the lead to 12-3.
 
Holguin singled to lead off the bottom of the sixth for Monroe, and Malvin Gutierrez drew a walk with one out. A passed ball put both runners in scoring position, and then a ground out by Rosario brought in Holguin to make it a 12-4 game. Alex Rodriguez then hit a ground-rule double to right, scoring Gutierrez to get the Express within seven.
 
The Avengers added to their lead again in the top of the seventh. Edwin Guerrero walked to lead off the inning, then a pinch hitting Keith Hernandez brought him in from second with a single to center to make it an eight-run game. Later in the inning with the bases loaded, Maycol Contreras grounded into a fielder's choice, but was able to bring in Hernandez to make it a 14-5 score. Ricardo Cordero then hit a two-RBI single up the middle, pushing the difference to 16-5. Dilone then dropped a pop up into no-man's land in short-center, resulting in an RBI double to make it a 17-5 score.
 
The Express got a run back in the bottom of the seventh when Demetrio Rodriguez blasted a fly ball over the fence down the right-field line to bring the score to 17-6, but it was not enough to extend the game.
 
Fabian Lorenzo got the start for the Express, but took the loss to fall to 0-1. Angel Ortiz Reyes got the win for ASA after pitching six frames.
 
Demetrio Rodriguez hit 2-for-4 with two RBIs, two runs and a homer in Wednesday's contest. Holguin finished 2-for-4 with a run. Rosario and Alex Rodriguez each hit a double, scored a run and knocked in another while going 1-for-3 and 1-for-2, respectively.
 
The Express will look to bounce back on Friday, April 9, when they visit Suffolk County Community College in Selden, N.Y. Friday's nine-inning contest, which begins at 3 p.m., will kick off a three-game series between the Express and Sharks.

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).