RANDOLPH, N.J., April 10, 2022 – The Monroe College Express softball team took to the road on Sunday to take on the County College of Morris. The Express picked up the victory in Game 1, 7-2, but lost the day's finale, 11-3. The Express move to 14-6 overall after Sunday, while Morris goes to 1-5.
 
GAME 1: Monroe 7, Morris 2
It did not take long for the Express to get on the board in Game 1. Zahra Medina led off the game with a single to center, and then managed to score while hustling on a single by Genesis Duarte-Suarez, immediately putting the Express up, 1-0. Medina later scored again for Monroe in the third. After a bunt single to lead off the inning, Duarte-Suarez sacrificed her to second, and then she stole third. A wild pitch allowed Medina to score and make it a 2-0 lead for the Express.
 
Morris tied the game in the bottom of the fourth when Alexis Schaunessy hit a two-run homer to bring the score to 2-2.
 
In the top of the sixth, Paola Calderon put the Express up for good with a solo homer to left, putting Monroe up, 3-2. The Express then rallied to add to their lead in the seventh. Duarte-Suarez and Arlenny Diaz both singled, and then Cinthia Ramirez walked to load the bases. Juliana Vasquez then singled to center, plating two runners to make it a 6-2 ballgame. With two outs, Raileni Amarante beat out an infield single, scoring Vasquez from third to reach the final score of 7-2.
 
Toni Shawnee had a strong day in the circle. She finished with 12 strikeouts, one shy of her season-high and her Express program record of 13. Shawnee went all seven frames, allowing just two runs to improve to 6-3.
 
Duarte-Suarez hit 3-for-3 in the game with a run scored and an RBI. Vasquez and Calderon each went 1-for-4 with two RBIs and a run apiece, with Calderon's hit being a home run. Amarante batted 2-for-2 with an RBI. Medina scored twice after going 2-for-3. Diaz scored a run after hitting 1-for-4.
 
GAME 2: Morris 11, Monroe 3 (5 INN)
The Titans put up a run in the bottom of the first to take an early lead in Game 2, but the Express quickly tied things up with an RBI single by Calderon that scored Ramirez. Morris then had an explosive third inning, putting 10 runs on the board to take an 11-1 lead after three frames.
 
The Express tried to keep the game going in the top of the fifth. With Ashley Ulmschneider on base, Stewart launched a homer to left, making it an 11-3 ballgame, but it was not enough to extend the game, seeing the Express fall, 11-3, after five.
 
Kelly Sesnick got the win for Morris in Game 2 after pitching all five frames. Layla Ramos shouldered the loss for Monroe to fall to 5-2.
 
Stewart went 1-for-2 in Game 2 with her two-run homer. Ulmschneider went 1-for-2 as well with a run scored. Ramirez hit 1-for-2 with a double and a run scored, while Calderon hit 1-for-2 with an RBI.
 
The Express are back at it on Tuesday, April 12, when they visit Orange County Community College in Middletown, N.Y. Game 1 is set for a 3:30 p.m. first pitch.

ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE COLLEGE
The athletic program at Monroe College encompasses a total of 35 teams competing across nine sports. There are 21 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 and men's volleyball programs, competing on the New Rochelle campus as the Mustangs (NJCAA Division I). The Monroe Express, based out of the Bronx campus, has 14 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).