NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., April 21, 2022 – Playing in a crucial Region 15 doubleheader on Thursday, the Monroe College Express softball team fell twice to No. 6 Suffolk County Community College at Flowers Park. Suffolk took Game 1, 11-3, but the Express showed their resilience in Game 2, leading most of the way before the Sharks came back late to win, 3-2. The Sharks improve to 14-3-1 overall and 2-0 in Region 15 play, while the Express fall to 15-12 and 0-2.
 
GAME 1: No. 6 Suffolk 11, Monroe 3 (5 INN)
Thursday's opener saw the Shark take a quick 4-0 lead in the first two frames. Zahra Medina got the Express on the board with a solo homer in the bottom of the second to make it a 4-1 game, but the Sharks responded with a run in the third and then six more in the fourth. The Express put two more runs on the board in the bottom of the fifth, but it was not enough to extend the game, as they fell, 11-3.
 
Varela Cappas took the loss for Monroe in Game 1 to fall to 1-1 on the season. Gianna Postiglione picked up the complete-game victory for Suffolk to improve to 9-1.
 
Medina finished 1-for-2 with her solo homer in Game 1. Nicole Peralta went 3-for-3 with a run scored, while Genesis Duarte-Suarez hit 3-for-3 as well. Ashley Ulmschneider went 1-for-3 with a run scored.
 
GAME 2: No. 6 Suffolk 3, Monroe 2
Game 2 quickly turned into a pitcher's duel, as neither team was able to bring a run across until the fourth frame. Cinthia Ramirez hit a one-out single in the home half of the fourth to get things going, and then Juliana Vasquez drew a walk. A wild pitch moved both runners into scoring position, and then a ground out by Paola Calderon brought in Ramirez, putting the Express on top, 1-0.
 
Unfortunately, the lead did not stick for long. The Sharks rallied in the top of the fifth, plating two runs to jump ahead of the Express. An error in the top of the sixth allowed Suffolk to score one more for a 3-1 advantage.
 
The Express battled in the bottom of the seventh. Ashleigh Stewart drew a one-out walk, advanced to second on a passed ball, and then to third on a wild pitch. One more wild pitch brought her in, making it a one-run game, but that was unfortunately all the Express could bring home in the seventh, falling to the Sharks but a run.
 
Toni Shawnee turned in a strong effort for the Express, tossing all seven frames and allowing just two earned runs with seven strikeouts, but unfortunately took the loss to drop to 6-5. Katie Buerkel earned the win for Suffolk to improve to 2-1.
 
Ramirez finished 2-for-3 with a run scored in Game 2 for the Express. Calderon batted 1-for-3 with an RBI. Medina hit 1-for-3 in the game.
 
The Express will look to avenge Thursday's losses on Saturday, April 23, when they take a trip out to Selden, N.Y. for a rematch with Suffolk. The doubleheader is set to begin at 1 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).