Middlesex, N.J., March 22, 2022 – The Express softball team's program-record nine-game winning streak came to a close on Tuesday afternoon as they dropped both games in a road doubleheader against Middlesex County College. The Express dropped a heartbreaker in Game 1 3-2 and lost Game 2 18-10. The Express fall to 10-4 with both losses while the Blue Colts improve to 4-0 with the win.
 
Game 1: Middlesex County College 3, Monroe Express 2
Game 1 featured a dominant pitcher's duel between both hurlers, who combined to retire 17 of the first 22 hitters over the first 2 1/3 innings. Middlesex Community College struck first on offense in the bottom of the third when Hannah Cotayo led off with a single and was driven in on an Olivia Tirso RBI Single to give the Colts the early advantage 1-0. The Express responded the next inning as Cinthia Ramirez (Brooklyn, New York) singled to right field. Then Juliana Vasquez (Queens, New York) got aboard on a pop-fly single to left field before Paola Calderon (Brooklyn, New York) brought both across on a two-run single right field, putting Monroe-Bronx in front 2-1. The Colts tied it up at two in the bottom of the sixth inning courtesy of Chloe Oblepias. Oblepias drilled a line-drive single to center field with one out and then stole second and came in on a wild pitch to knot it up after six innings of play. The Express failed to convert on a lead-off single in the top of the seventh by Nicole Peralta (New York, New York). Layla Ramos (Queens, New York) struck out after forcing a five-pitch at-bat, and then Peralta stole second to inch closer towards the go-ahead run with Ashleigh Stewart (Brooklyn, New York) at-bat. Stewart battled hard, forcing a seven-pitch at-bat but struck out swinging, and Zahra Medina (Bronx, New York) lined out to keep Monroe-Bronx from breaking the 2-2 tie. Jennah Schiraldo singled on a pop fly with one out to get the go-ahead run aboard in the bottom of the seventh. After a ground out by Olivia Tirso made it two outs Kaitlynne McCarthy who pitched a gem, used her offensive prowess, ripping a game-winning RBI single into right field, scoring Shiraldo from second to end the Express's nine-game winning streak 3-2.
 
Toni Shawnee (Tulsa, Oklahoma) took the loss by going 6.2 innings and posted her second double-digit strikeout effort with 11 while allowing 10 hits, three runs, and walking one batter.

McCarthy got her second victory of the season, going seven innings and allowing two runs on eight hits while striking out six batters.

Game 2: Middlesex County College 18, Monroe Express 10
After a pitcher's duel in Game 1, both squads' narrative changed in Game 2 with an offensive explosion. Middlesex County College struck first in the bottom of the first when Kaitlynne McCarthy ripped a two-run double to make it 2-0. Then, the Blue Colts extended their advantage to 4-0 when Jennah Schiraldo reached on an error scoring Hannah Cotayo and Abigail Jason in the bottom of the second. The Express responded immediately in the top of the third, cutting the deficit to two when Genesis Duarte-Suarez (Queens, New York) picked up an RBI on bunt single and scored another on a wild pitch making it 4-2. Monroe-Bronx added three more runs in the top of the fourth to go in front for the first time on the afternoon. Ashleigh Stewart (Brooklyn, New York) drove in Nicole Peralta (New York, New York) on a sacrifice fly. Duarte-Suarez reached on an error by Olivia Tirso scoring Julissa Ramos (Brooklyn, New York) before Cinthia Ramirez's (Brooklyn, New York) RBI single put the Express in the lead going into the bottom of the fourth 5-4. Middlesex County College provided a robust response in the bottom of the fourth with an eight-run inning to retake the lead and increase it to 12-5. McCarthy's two-run double into center field put the Blue Colts back in the lead 6-5, and then Julie Davis's RBI double moved the lead to 7-5. McCarthy scored when Alyssa Dima reached on an error to make it 8-5, and Cotayo's two-run double increased the Margin to 10-5, and she would score on a passed ball after a Jason RBI single on a passed ball to make it 12-5. Zahra Medina (Bronx, New York) and Duarte-Suarez recorded RBI Singles, and Ramirez uncorked a two-run triple to cut the deficit to 12-10 in the top of the fifth before the Blue Colts scored another six in the bottom of the fifth to take the game 18-10.

Mia Colamarino (Bronx, New York) took the loss for Monroe College-Bronx, allowing six hits and eight runs over one inning pitched. Layla Ramos (Queens, New York) started the game for the Express, going three innings, allowing four runs on six hits, striking out two, and walking one.

Chloe Oblepias got the victory tossing a scoreless one-third of an inning and allowing no hits and a walk. Alyssa Dima started the game for Middlesex County College Blue Colts Varsity, allowing seven hits and five runs over three and two-thirds innings while walking one. McCarthy pitched one inning out of the bullpen allowing five hits and five runs while striking out two.

The Express tallied 12 hits in the game, with Arlenny Diaz (New York, New York), Ramirez, Peralta, Medina, and Duarte-Suarez recording multi-hit games and Diaz leading all hitters with three hits in four at-bats.
 
The Express look for revenge against the Blue Colts in the first of two doubleheaders this weekend at home, beginning Saturday on March 26 at 1 and 3 p.m. at Flowers Park. For more information, please 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).