BRONX, N.Y., May 7, 2021 – After leading for most of the game, the Monroe College Express baseball team saw its lead disappear in the top of the ninth, as the Express eventually fell to Nassau Community College, 10-9, Friday evening at Roberto Clemente State Park. The Express fall to 7-15 overall and 1-3 in Region 15 play, while Nassau improves to 8-6 overall and 1-3 in region play.
 
After sparking the Express' comeback last Tuesday with a solo homer, Alexander Aponte got the scoring started in Friday's contest, hitting a leadoff homer to dead center in the bottom of the second to give Monroe a 1-0 edge.
 
Christopher McGuggart beat out a single off the pitcher with two outs in the top of the third for the Lions to keep the inning alive for the visitors. He moved up to second on a passed ball, and then Richard Apollo hit a grounder up the middle that went off the second baseman's mitt, allowing McGuggart to score from second and tie the game at 1-1.
 
Anthony Burgos walked with one away in the home half of the third, then stole second to get into scoring position. Aponte flew out to center, but Burgos moved up to third after tagging up. Malvin Gutierrez then reached on a throwing error by the shortstop, allowing Burgos to score and put the Express ahead, 2-1.
 
Jalfani Cruz led off the bottom of the fourth with a long fly ball to center that dropped in for a single. Two batters later, Demetrio Rodriguez hit a long fly ball that cleared the fence in right-center for a two-run homer, pushing Monroe's lead to 4-1.
 
Maxwell Grewal led off the fifth with a double down the left-field line, and was then sacrificed over to third by Brian McCloskey. With two outs, McGuggart doubled to the warning track in left, plating Grewal to bring the score to 4-2. The Lions nearly scored again, but a single into center by Richard Apollo saw Jalfani Cruz throw McGuggart out at the plate, ending the inning with the Express up by two.
 
With two outs, James Brush singled into left for the Lions to keep the sixth going. Jordan Chin then doubled to left-center, bringing Brush around to score and make it a 4-3 ballgame.
 
Jose Arrieta singled into left with one out in the sixth, and then stole second base. An error on a ground ball by Rodriguez then put runners on the corners for Monroe. After Rodriguez stole second, Burgos singled up the middle, bringing in both runners to push the lead to 6-3.
 
The Lions continued to fight back in the top of the seventh. McCloskey led off with a double down the left-field line, and then Frank DiMartino homered over the centerfield wall, bringing the visitors back within a run.
 
Joseph Rosario extended the lead with one swing in the bottom of the seventh. He hit a long fly ball to deep left-center that carried all the way over the fence for an opposite-field solo homer, extending Monroe's lead to 7-5.
 
Donaven Kregeloh led off the eighth with a double to right for the Lions. Brush then drew a walk to get two runners on. Grewal lined out to short with one out, but a throw back to second got away, allowing Kregeloh to score and make it a 7-6 game.
 
The Express opened the home half of the eighth with three straight hits to load the bases. Aponte then hit a sacrifice fly to right-center, bringing in Rodriguez to push the lead to back to two. Burgos and Holguin then attempted a double steal, and the throw to third went off Holguin's foot and out of play, allowing him to score and make it a 9-6 game.
 
With two outs and a runner on in the top of the ninth, Jorge Espinal pinch hit for the Lions, and came through with a two-run homer, bringing the visitors back within a run. Two more singles kept the inning going for Nassau, and then a pinch-hitting Michael Cipoletti singled down the right-field line, plating both runners to give the Lions their first lead of the day at 10-9.
 
Chris Dominguez started for the Express, but did not ultimately factor into the decision after going seven innings and allowing four earned runs with eight strikeouts. Alex Rodriguez Bello shouldered the loss after being responsible Nassau's final four runs, dropping the reliever to 0-3. Donaven Kregeloh got the win in relief for the Lions to improve to 2-0.
 
Six different Express hitters had multiple hits in Friday's contest. Cruz finished 3-for-5 with a triple and a run scored. Rodriguez went 2-for-6 with a home run, a double, two RBIs and three runs scored. Aponte hit 1-for-4 with a homer, two RBIs and a run. Rosario went 2-for-4 with his solo homer. Holguin went 2-for-5 with a run, while Burgos hit 2-for-4 with two RBI sand a run. Arrieta batted 2-for-5 with a double and a run.
 
The Express will look to bounce back tomorrow, May 8, when they visit Nassau for a doubleheader out in Garden City, N.Y. First pitch of Game 1 is set for 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).