BRONX, N.Y., April 15, 2022 – The Monroe College Express baseball team played a tight back-and-forth matchup with Nassau Community College on Friday at Roberto Clemente State Park, but ultimately fell to the Region 15 foe, 9-7. The Express fall to 11-15 overall and 6-7 in Region 15, while the Lions improve to 8-7 on the year and 7-3 against region opponents.
 
Things got off to a rough start for the Express, as the Lions put three runs on the board in the top of the first for an early 3-0 lead. The game then went quiet until the bottom of the fifth, when the Express rallied into the lead. Ruben Ogando led off with a single, but Alex Rodriguez later hit into a fielder's choice that got the runner out at second. Jose Arrieta and Juan Jorge each walked with two out to load the bases, and then Salomon Lluveres delivered the big blow, smashing a grand slam to put the Express ahead, 4-3.
 
The Express added to the lead in the sixth. Quinn Kilroy kept the inning going with a two-out double, and then Rodriguez singled to short, but an errant throw by the shortstop allowed Kilroy to go home and make it a 5-3 ballgame.
 
Two big swings put the Lions back in control in the top of the seventh. With a runner on, Anthony Lamar hit a two-run homer, tying the game up at 5-5. Lucas Rubenstein later put the Lions in the lead with an RBI single, and then Braden Clark hit Nassau's second long ball of the inning, another two-run home run to leave the Lions ahead, 8-5. The Lions got one more in the eight on an RBI groundout by Vincent Rutigliano to go up, 9-5.
 
Jose Ramirez hit a pinch hit single with one out in the eighth, and then Kilroy singled as well to get two runners on. Rodriguez drew a walk to load the bases, and then Arrieta hit a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Ramirez to get the Express back within three.
 
In the bottom of the ninth, Ernie Farrell hit a leadoff double, and then moved to third on a groundout by Joseph Rosario. Randy Diaz then grounded out to third, allowing Farrell to come home and make it a 9-7 ballgame. Ramirez singled to keep the inning going, and then Kilroy hit a long fly ball to center, but it was caught just a few feet shy of the fence, ending the game.
 
Nick Inzerillo picked up the win for the Lions in a relief effort on Friday. Anderson Cuello shouldered the loss in relief for the Express to fall to 2-1.
 
Lluveres hit 1-for-5 with his grand slam in Friday's contest. Farrell batted 3-for-5 with two doubles and a run scored. Kilroy hit a double and went 2-for-5 with a run scored. Rodriguez batted 2-for-3 with a run. Ramirez scored once in a 2-for-2 effort after coming in later in the game. Diaz knocked in a run in a 2-for-5 outing. Jorge hit 1-for-3 with a run scored. Arrieta finished 0-for-3, but was still productive with an RBI and a run scored. Ogando hit 1-for-2 in the game.
 
The Express and Lions go head-to-head twice more on Saturday, April 16, this time out in Garden City, N.Y. Game 1 of tomorrow's doubleheader is set for 12 p.m.

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).