WARWICK, R.I., April 16, 2022 – The Monroe College Express split a pair of games at Community College of Rhode Island Saturday afternoon up in Rhode Island. The Express fell in Game 1, 7-4, but bounced back in a Game 2 barn burner to win, 20-13. The Express move to 15-10 overall, while the Knights go to 11-15-1.
 
GAME 1: CCRI 7, Monroe 4
The Express managed to grab a quick advantage in Game 1. Ashley Ulmschneider singled to lead off the game, and was then moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Zahra Medina. Genesis Duarte-Suarez followed with a sacrifice fly to right, bringing in Ulmschneider to put Monroe up, 1-0. CCRI then managed to bring in a run in the home half of the first to tie the game at 1-1.
 
Medina led off the third by reaching on an error that left her on second base. Duarte-Suarez then grounded out, but managed to move Medina to third. Cinthia Ramirez then brought her home on a sacrifice fly to left, putting the Express ahead, 2-1.
 
The Knights had a big fifth frame to jump into the lead. They put five runs on the board, going up, 6-2, on the Express heading into the sixth. They then added another run in the sixth to take a 7-2 advantage.
 
The Express did their best to fight back in the top of the seventh. Duarte-Suarez led off with a single, but Ramirez hit into a fielder's choice that got Duarte-Suarez out at second. Arlenny Diaz followed with a single, and then Juliana Vasquez walked to load the bases. Paola Calderon then singled into right, plating two runs to make it a 7-4 game, but the next two batters were unable to reach base, seeing the Express fall by three.
 
Jillian Serra got the complete-game victory for CCRI to improve to 4-2 on the season. Layla Ramos took the loss for Monroe to fall to 5-4.
 
Ramirez finished 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored in Saturday's opener. Duarte-Suarez also batted 2-for-3 with an RBI. Diaz batted 2-for-4 with a run scored. Ulmschneider went 1-for-2 with a run, while Calderon hit 1-for-4 with two RBIs.
 
GAME 2: Monroe 20, CCRI 13
The Express got an early leg up on the Knights in Game 2 with a second-inning rally. Calderon hit a one-out single, and after she stole second, Vasquez singled to left and advanced on a throw home to put runners on second and third. Medina then bunted and beat out the play, but the runners were unable to advance, leaving the bases loaded for Monroe. Ashleigh Stewart drew a walk, bringing in the first run of the game. Ulmschneider then singled to center, bringing two runs in to make it a 3-0 lead for the Express. Nicole Peralta beat out a bunt to load the bases again, and then Duarte-Suarez brought in Stewart on a sacrifice fly to center, pushing the lead to four runs. Ramirez followed with an RBI single to center to push the lead to five, and then Diaz doubled to left, bringing in two more runs to make it a 7-0 ballgame.
 
CCRI got two runs back in the home half of the second, but the Express got right back on track in the third. Medina and Stewart hit a pair of one-out singles, and then Peralta walked with two outs to load the bases. Duarte-Suarez also walked, bringing in a run to make it 8-2. Ramirez then hit a two-RBI single to push the lead to 10-2.
 
The big game continued for the Express in the top of the fourth, beginning with a leadoff double by Calderon. Vasquez then beat out a bunt to put runners on the corners. Medina followed with a two-RBI double, pushing the lead to 12-2. With one out, Ulmschneider hit a sacrifice fly to center to score Medina and make it a 13-2 Express lead. Peralta kept the inning going with a single to center, and then Duarte-Suarez roped a triple to right, bringing in one more run to take a 14-2 advantage.
 
CCRI picked up a run in the bottom of the fourth to bring the score to 14-3. The Express then had two runners on after hits by Calderon and Vasquez in the top of the fifth. Medina then hit a line drive to left and legged out a three-run inside-the-park home run to go up, 17-3.
 
The Express were three outs away from a run-rule victory, but the Knights managed to catch fire in the bottom of the fifth, putting seven runs on the board to bring the score to 17-10 and extend the game. CCRI then brought another three runs across in the sixth to get within four runs at 17-13.
 
The Express offense came alive again in the top of the seventh. With two outs, an error put Ulmschneider on base, and then Peralta drew a walk. On a double steal, the throw to third got away, allowing Ulmschneider to score and put Monroe up by five. Duarte-Suarez then singled to center, plating Peralta to make it a 19-13 score. Ramirez then ripped a triple to left, scoring one more run to leave the Express up, 20-13.
 
Varela Cappas picked up her first win of the year after going 4.1 innings in the start in Game 2. Ryleigh Ruddock took the loss for CCRI.
 
Medina finished 4-for-5 in Game 2 with a home run, a double, five RBIs and four runs scored in a huge game for the sophomore. Calderon and Vasquez each went 3-for-5 with three runs scored, with Calderon adding a double. Duarte-Suarez knocked in four runs an scored once in a 2-for-3 outing that included a triple. Ramirez also tripled in a 3-for-6 game, adding four RBIs and a run. Ulmschneider plated three runs and scored twice after hitting 1-for-5. Peralta scored four runs after hitting 2-for-3. Diaz batted 1-for-5 with a two-RBI double. Stewart batted 1-for-2 with two runs and an RBI, and then Amarante hit 1-for-2 after subbing in for Stewart late in the game.
 
The Express are back on the road on Tuesday, April 19, when they visit Sussex County Community College in Newton, N.J. Game 1 of the doubleheader is set for 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).