Newport News, Virginia, March 6, 2022 – The Monroe Express snapped a three-game losing streak after dropping the first game of Sunday's road doubleheader against Thomas Nelson Community College, 13-9, but the Express rebounded to defeat the Gators 9-5, in the second game to earn a split. Monroe-Bronx record moves to 2-3 on the season while Thomas Nelson Community College falls to 2-3 on the year.
 
GAME 1: Thomas Nelson Community College 13, Monroe Express 9 
Thomas Nelson Community College jumped all over Monroe-Bronx with 11 runs in the first two innings scoring three in the bottom of the first and eight in the bottom of the second. Michael Adams knocked a two-run dinger to left field, and Joey Williams drilled an RBI double to center field to make it 3-0 after the first inning. Michael Adams got right back to it in the bottom of the second with one out singling and coming across the plate on a wild pitch, then Tyler Butler connected on a two-run homer to make it 6-0, and Aydan Harmon's RBI Single made it 7-0 and then Jacob Debevic was walked in to make it 8-0. However, the Express would not go away as they mounted a furious comeback with three runs in the top of the fourth and fifth to get the deficit down to two, 11-9.
 
Malvin Gutierrez (New York, N.Y.) helped the Express finally get on the board in the top of the fourth, connecting on a two-run double to left field and then scoring on an error. Joseph Rosario (New York, N.Y.) and Jose Ramirez connected on RBI doubles in the top of the fifth, and then Ruben Ogando cranked a three-run homer to left field to get the Express within two, 11-9. However, the Gators pulled away with two insurance runs in the bottom of the fifth and six to take the game 13-9.
 
Denis Garcia (Port Chester, New York) started Express pitching one and one-third innings, allowing five hits and six runs while striking out three and walking one. Jeremy Acevado, in relief, went 2.1 innings allowing no hits and an earned run while striking out four and walking six batters. Pablo Castillo also threw a scoreless inning while Samuel Tejada pitched one inning allowing two hits and a run while striking out two. Daniel Jimenez allowed five runs, four walks, and two hits with one strikeout in one-third of an inning of work.
 
Nick Jaszkowski led things off on the hill for Thomas Nelson Community College, lasting two innings, allowing one hit and zero runs while striking out one and walking one. David Escobar, Ethan Hicks, Josh Rodriguez, TJ McDonough, and Pablo Veras all pitched one inning of relief, with Escobar and Hicks striking out a team-high two batters each.
 
GAME 2: Monroe Express 9, Thomas Nelson Community College 5
The Express broke game two wide open with a five-run fifth inning en route to a 9-5 victory over Thomas Nelson Community College. Jose Arrieta (New Bedford, MA) got the scoring going in the top of the first with a solo homer to center field, then Jeffery Daddio registered an RBI single to knot the game up at one. The Gators would grab their first lead and stretch it to 3-1 when Tyler Butler was walked in by Gavin Soto, and Zach Barco scored on a wild pitch the following at-bat. In the top of the fourth, Quinn Kilroy (Arlington,MA) slapped a line drive past shortstop Will Michalowicz for an RBI single, scoring Ruben Ogando, and he would return the favor later in the top of the fifth with an RBI single to left field, scoring Arrieta and tying it at three. With two outs and the bases loaded, Ernie Farrell uncorked a base clearing three-run triple to left field to give the Express back the lead 6-3, and they would keep it for good as Kilroy added another RBI single to make it 7-3. Arrieta added his second homer on the afternoon to center field to make it 8-4, and Kilroy drove in his third RBI of the game to make it 9-5, the final result after seven innings. 
 
Fermin Soto got the start for the Express on the hill as he allowed two hits and three runs while walking five and striking out two over two and a third innings. Gavyn Soto struck out two and walked two. Alex Rodriguez Bello (Bronx, N.Y.) picked up the victory for the Express going two innings, allowing one run on one hit and striking out one. At the same time, Andry Sanchez (Bronx, N.Y.) and Emmanuel Aviles both stuck out a batter in an inning pitched.
 
Tyler Butler took the loss for Thomas Nelson Community College. Butler allowed seven hits and six runs over four and two-thirds innings, striking out eight.
 
The Express will look to make it back-to-back victories on Wednesday, March 9, on the road against Westchester Community College at 2:30 p.m. at Viking Field in Valhalla, New York. For more information, please visit the Monroe Express Baseball 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).