GARDEN CITY, N.Y., April 16, 2022 – The Monroe Express baseball team split a doubleheader with Region 15 foe Nassau Community College on Saturday in Garden City. The Express got the job done in extra innings to win Game 1, 6-4, but fell in Game 2, 11-1. The Express move to 12-16 overall and 7-8 in Region 15 play, while the Lions go to 9-8 and 8-4.
 
GAME 1: Monroe 6, Nassau 4 (8 INN)
After two scoreless frames, the Express got on the board in the top of the third. Alex Rodriguez hit a leadoff double, and then a single by Juan Jorge put runners on first and third. Jose Arrieta then hit a sacrifice fly to center, bringing in Jorge to put Monroe up, 1-0.
 
The Lions tied the game in the bottom of the fifth on a Michael Perhauz RBI single. The Express then jumped right back into the lead in the sixth. Salomon Lluveres led off with a single, and then stole second. Ernie Farrell grounded out, but was able to move Lluveres to third. Jose Ramirez then reached on an error in a pinch-hit opportunity, but Lluveres was forced to hold up at third. Jabez King then pinch ran for Ramirez and quickly stole second. Ruben Ogando then came through with a two-RBI single to left, putting the Express back up, 3-1. However, the Lions put two runs of their own on the board in the home half of the sixth.
 
Arrieta led off the seventh with a single into center, and then stole second to get into scoring position. However, a grounder to short by Lluveres resulted in Arrieta getting thrown out at third for the first out. Lluveres then stole second, and moved to third when the throw got away. Farrell then singled into left, scoring Lluveres to put Monroe up, 4-3. Three outs away from a win, the Express were unable to hold on in the bottom of the seventh, as the Lions picked up a run to force extra innings.
 
Anthony Gonzalez Jr. walked to lead off the eighth for Monroe. He then stole second and moved to third on a bad throw. A wild pitch then brought in Gonzalez to put Monroe up by a run. With one out, Rodriguez singled into right, and then Jorge ripped a triple to left, bringing Rodriguez all the way home to put the Express up, 6-4. Alex Rodriguez-Bello then came on in the bottom of the eighth for Monroe, shutting the Lions down in order to close out a big win for the Express.
 
Christopher Dominguez got the win in relief for the Express to improve to 2-4 overall. Rodriguez-Bello earned his first save of the season. James Cappozzi took the loss for the Lions to drop to 1-1.
 
Ogando hit 2-for-3 with two RBIs in the Game 1 win. Rodriguez hit 2-for-3 with a double and two runs scored. Lluveres scored twice in a 2-for-5 outing. Jorge also hit 2-for-5 with a triple, while Arrieta went 1-for-3 with an RBI. Farrell knocked in a run in a 1-for-5 effort. Diaz finished 2-for-2 with a triple.
 
GAME 2: Nassau 11, Monroe 1 (5 INN)
Nassau took control early in Game 2. The Lions scored a run in each of the first two innings before putting five runs on the board in the third to go up, 7-0, on the Express.
 
The Express got a run back in the top of the fourth. After Arrieta walked and Lluveres was hit by a pitch, Farrell singled into center, scoring Arrieta to make it a 7-1 game.
 
Nassau kept its scoring streak going in the fourth, plating another two runs on a two-run homer by Dylan Strang, making it a 9-1 score. Nassau then finished the game by plating two more runs in the bottom of the fifth, forcing a run-rule finish at 11-1.
 
Chris Perri got the win for Nassau after going all five frames in the start, improving to 1-1. Arturo Aviles took the loss for the Express to drop to 0-1.
 
Farrell hit 1-for-2 with an RBI in Game 2. Rosario went 1-for-1 with a triple. Ogando batted 1-for-2.
 
The Express get back to work on Wednesday, April 20, when they visit Raritan Valley Community College in North Branch, N.J. The nine-inning contest is set to begin at 3:30 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).