BRONX, N.Y., April 9, 2022 – After winning the first two games of the series earlier in the week, the Monroe College Express baseball team completed a four-game sweep of Bronx Community College with a pair of victories over the Broncos in a Region 15 doubleheader on Saturday at Roberto Clemente State Park. The Express rallied to win in the bottom of the seventh in Game 1, 11-10, before a run-rule victory after five innings in Game 2 by a score of 13-3. The Express improve to 10-13 overall and 6-5 in Region 15 play, while the Broncos fall to 4-8 both overall and in Region 15.
 
GAME 1: Monroe 11, Bronx 10
The Express had a tough time throwing strikes in the first inning, leading to the Broncos putting five runs on the board. Monroe was not going to let that big deficit last and put together a rally of its own in the home half of the first. Jose Arrieta walked to lead off the frame, and then Juan Jorge blasted a two-run homer over the fence in center to make it a 5-2 game. Salomon Lluveres and Ernie Farrell hit back-to-back doubles, but Farrell's double was a high fly ball that fell between the fielders, leaving runners on second and third. Joseph Rosario singled to second, bringing in Lluveres to get Monroe within two. Jose Ramirez then hit a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Farrell to leave the Express behind by just a run.
 
Malvin Gutierrez led off the second with a single into left, and then moved to second on a wild pitch. Arrieta was then able to bring him in on a single through the left side, tying the game at 5-5. Lluveres hit a one-out double to put runners on second and third, and then a sacrifice fly by Farrell scored Arrieta to give the Express the lead at 6-5.
 
The Express extended the lead in the bottom of the fourth. Farrell ripped a long line drive over the fence in right-center for a solo homer, making it a 7-5 score in favor of Monroe.
 
Monroe once again got on the board in the fifth. Randy Diaz was on first with one out, and then proceeded to steal second and third. Malvin Gutierrez singled to center to bring him in, but the ball went through the center fielder's legs, allowing Gutierrez to advance to third. Arrieta brought him home with a sacrifice fly to left, making it a 9-5 lead for the Express.
 
Things fell apart for the Express in the top of the seventh, as the Broncos strung together five hits and five runs to jump into the lead in the final frame, 10-9. The Express did not quit after losing the lead. Ruben Ogando pinch hit to lead off the frame, and was hit by a pitch to put the tying run on base. Alex Rodriguez then attempted a sacrifice bunt, but the pitcher's throw went off Rodriguez's back, sending the ball into right field and allowing the runner from first to come all the way around to score and tie the game at 10-10. Anthony Gonzalez Jr. pinch ran for Rodriguez at second base, and quickly moved over to third on a wild pitch, putting the winning run 90 feet away. Three batters later, Arrieta hit a long fly out to center field, deep enough to bring Gonzalez home on a sacrifice fly to walk it off with an 11-10 win for the Express.
 
Tyler Cadena picked up the win to improve to 1-0 on the season for the Express. Christopher Messon took the loss in relief for Bronx to fall to 0-3.
 
Arrieta went 1-for-2 with two runs, three RBIs and the game-winning sacrifice fly in the win. Farrell finished 2-for-3 with two runs, two RBIs, a double and a homer. Jorge batted 1-for-4 with a two-run home run. Lluveres hit 3-for-4 with a run scored and a double. Gutierrez wenet 2-for-3 with two runs and an RBI. Rosario hit 2-for-4, while Rodriguez batted 2-for-3. Diaz stole two bases and scored once in a 1-for-4 effort.
 
GAME 2: Monroe 13, Bronx 3 (5 INN)
Game 2 got off to a much better start for the Express. After holding the Broncos off the board in the top of the first, Arrieta and Jorge each walked to open the bottom of the inning, and then both stole a base to get into scoring position. Lluveres hit a sacrifice fly to right, scoring Arrieta to make it a 1-0 game. Jorge then scored on a wild pitch for Monroe's second run. Farrell kept the rally going with a double down the left-field line, and then Gutierrez brought him home with a single to left, leaving Monroe ahead, 3-0.
 
The Express doubled the lead in the bottom of the second. With two outs, Arrieta kept the inning alive with a single to left, and then stole second base. The catcher then tried to pick Arrieta off at second, but the throw bounced into the outfield, allowing Arrieta to come around and score, making it a 4-0 game. Jorge kept things going with a single to left, and then Lluveres blasted a homer down the left-field line to leave the Express up, 6-0.
 
The Broncos got a few runs back across the third and fourth frames. Steven Correa hit an RBI single in the top of the third to make it a 6-1 game. In the fourth, Angel Calderon and Alex Messon each hit a solo homer, bringing the score to 6-3.
 
In the home half of the fourth, Jorge beat out an infield single with one out, and then Lluveres hit a frozen rope to right-center for an RBI double, making it a 7-3 game. A wild pitch put Lluveres on third, and then Farrell reached on an error to put runners on first and third. Gutierrez grounded out to third, but it was enough to bring Lluveres in to leave the Express up, 8-3.
 
The Express ended the game with a rally in the bottom of the fifth. Rodriguez walked, and then Diaz dropped a single into right. With runners on first and second, Arrieta hit a fielder's choice to second, but all the runners were safe, and Diaz hustled from second to score on the play, making it a 9-3 game. With two outs, the Express had the bases loaded for Farrell, who hit a hard line drive to center that got just over the center fielder who misjudged it, resulting in a bases-clearing double that made it a 12-3 score. Gutierrez was hit by a pitch, and then Quinn Kilroy hit a short dribbler to the pitcher, who slipped while picking up the ball, allowing everyone to be safe and a run to score, ending the game with a 13-3 final.
 
Samuel Tejada picked up the win for the Express with 1.1 scoreless innings in relief. Alan Breton took the loss for the Broncos to drop to 1-1.
 
Lluveres batted 2-for-2 in Game 2 with three runs, four RBIs, a home run and a double. Farrell doubled twice to finish 2-for-3 with three RBs and two runs scored. Jorge went 2-for-3 with three runs scored and a stolen base. Arrieta scored three times as well in a 1-for-3 outing, including two stolen bases. Gutierrez knocked in two runs in a 1-for-3 effort. Diaz also hit 1-for-3 with a run scored.
 
Region 15 action continues for the Express on Tuesday, April 12, when they host Nassau Community College at Roberto Clemente State Park. The nine-inning contest is set to begin at 4 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).