New Rochelle, NY, March 15, 2022 – The Monroe Express Softball team made it back-to-back series sweeps for the first time in program history, taking two from Orange County Community College, 7-5 in Game 1 and 11-8 in Game 2 on Tuesday afternoon in their home opener at Flowers Park. The win improves the Express's record to 6-2, their best start in program history and their fifth consecutive victory, also a program-best.

GAME 1: Monroe Express 7, Orange County Community College 5
The Express hitting was humming during the final leg of their North Carolina Spring break, and it carried over on Tuesday as Monroe-Bronx opened the scoring in the bottom of the second after their first two hitters were retired. Arlenny Diaz's (New York, New York) single gave the Express life in the inning, Raileni Amarante (New York, New York) doubled, and Nicole Peralta (New York, New York) stepped into the batter's box and brought both across home plate on a two-run single to make 2-0. Orange County Community College responded immediately in the top of third after their first two batters were retired with a two-run triple and an RBI single to make it 3-2 going into the bottom of the third. The Colts added another RBI single to stretch their lead to 4-2 in the top of the fourth, then when facing two outs in the bottom of the fourth, Ashleigh Stewart (Brooklyn, New York) cranked a three-run shot to left field, putting the Express back in front 5-4. After an Orange County Community College triple tied the game at five in top of the sixth, the Express got two in the bottom of it when Amarante bunted out, scoring Cinthia Ramirez (Brooklyn, New York). Then Peralta drove in Diaz on a Sacrifice fly to make it 7-5. Zahra Medina (Bronx, New York), who picked up the win, retired the Colts in order in the top of the seventh to preserve the victory.

Medina earned her first victory on the season going three innings and allowing two hits and one run. Toni Shawnee (Tulsa, Oklahoma) got the start for the Express allowing six hits, four runs, and striking out six with no walks over four innings.

Amarante and Diaz both recorded multiples hits with two each for the Express.

GAME 2: Monroe Express 11, Orange County Community College 8
After Orange County Community College scored three runs in the top of the second, Cinthia Ramirez (Brooklyn, New York) scored on an error to cut it to a 3-1 game in the bottom of the second. The Express went off in the bottom of the fourth inning with a 10-run outburst. Ramirez unloaded a bullet to center field and rounded all the bases for an inside the park home run to knot the game up at three before the floodgates opened for Monroe-Bronx. Layla Ramo's (Queens, New York) RBI double put the Express back in front, and then Zahra Medina's (Bronx, New York) RBI Single made it 6-3. Nicole Peralta (New York, New York), and Raileni Amarante (New York, New York) scored on wild pitches to make it 7-3, and then Paola Calderon (Brooklyn, New York) connected on an inside park home run of her own to make it an eight-run lead 11-3. Orange Community College came back with three runs in the top of the fifth, and one in the top of the sixth and seventh before Ramos, who got the win closed the door for an 11-8 victory.
 
Ramos went the distance for the Express, going seven innings and allowing eight runs on ten hits while striking out one.
 
Jessica Stewart took the loss for SUNY Orange Colts, giving up eight runs on six hits over three and third innings and striking out two.
 
Ramos and Diaz had multi-hit days for the Express, recording two hits, while Monroe Bronx had 10 total on the afternoon, their fourth game this season with 10 or more hits. Diaz also put up back-to-back multi-hit games in the series against the Colts.
 
The Express look extend their five-game winning streak this Friday, March 18, in an intercampus doubleheader against the Monroe Mustangs at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. For more information, visit the Monroe Express Softball Schedule Page.
 

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).