FLEMINGTON, N.J., April 20, 2022 – Trailing by a run with one out left, the Monroe College Express baseball team came up clutch in the top of the ninth against Raritan Valley Community College on Wednesday, rallying for three more runs to take the lead and eventually a 5-3 win over the Lions at Diamond Nation. The Express improve to 13-16 overall with the win, while the Lions drop to 7-18.
 
The Express needed just three batters to jump into an early lead on Wednesday. Juan Jorge singled to right to lead off the game, and then Salomon Lluveres was hit by a pitch to get two runners on. Both moved into scoring position on a wild pitch, allowing both to come home on a two-RBI single by Ernie Farrell, putting Monroe immediately ahead, 2-0.
 
That lead held until the bottom of the third. Raritan Valley's Eli Berezny hit a two-out triple to left, scoring Geoff Latham to get the Lions on the board. Berezny then scored on a wild pitch to tie the game at 2-2. In the bottom of the fifth, the Lions had the bases loaded and two outs when another wild pitch brought Latham home from third, putting the home team on top, 3-2, after five.
 
The Express continued to trail by a run heading into the ninth. Jose Arrieta reached on an infield single, and then Joseph Rosario sacrificed him over to second. With the Express down to their final out, Malvin Gutierrez came through with an RBI single to right, plating Arrieta from second to tie the game at 3-3. Ramsel Jerez was then hit by a pitch, and then both runners moved into scoring position on a wild pitch. Jorge then roped a double to left, scoring both runners to put on what proved to be the game-winning hit, as it put the Express ahead, 5-3.
 
Alex Rodriguez-Bello went three scoreless frames in relief to earn the win in Wednesday's contest, yielding just one hit with one strikeout to improve to 4-0 on the year. Gavyn Soto turned in a strong start, going six innings and allowing just one earned run on four hits with six strikeouts. Odanni Nicasio took the loss for Raritan Valley to fall to 3-1.
 
Jorge batted 3-for-5 with a run and a two-RBI double that proved to be the game-winner on Wednesday. Farrell knocked in two runs in a 1-for-4 outing. Gutierrez went 2-for-2 after coming into the game in the seventh inning, plating the tying run while later scoring the winning run in the game. Lluveres and Arrieta both scored a run in a pair of 1-for-4 efforts. Rosario batted 1-for-3.
 
The Express will play next on Friday, April 22, when they host ASA College (NYC) at Roberto Clemente State Park. The nine-inning affair is scheduled for a 4 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).