CABOT, Pa., May 13, 2022 – Just three days after capturing the program's first-ever Region 15 Championship, the Monroe College Express softball team made even more significant history on Friday, sweeping Butler County Community College at Laura J. Doerr Memorial Park in the Northeast District Championship series to claim Monroe's first-ever Northeast District Title and earn the team's first trip to the NJCAA Div. III Softball Championship.
 
The Express picked up a 9-1 victory in Game 1 on Friday to put themselves one win away from the district crown. Monroe then powered its way to an 18-7, run-rule victory over the Pioneers in Game 2 to become the first team this season to clinch its spot at the NJCAA Softball Championships in Syracuse, N.Y.
 
GAME 1: Monroe 9, Butler County 1
The Express fell into an early hole in the bottom of the first. Olivia Vissari led off with a single to center, and then advanced to center when the ball was misplayed in the outfield. Taylor Schultz then sacrificed her over to third, and a single by Lauren Hesidenz brought Vissari in to make it a 1-0 game.
 
The Express did not stay down for long, though. Arlenny Diaz hit a one-out single to center, and then Cinthia Ramirez blasted a two-run homer over the fence in center, putting the Express on top, 2-1.
 
The Express started to break it open in the top of the sixth. Zahra Medina reached on a walk, and then Paola Calderon and Diaz both reached on errors to load the bases. Ramirez came through yet again with a bases-clearing double, pushing Monroe's lead to 5-1. With one out, Ashleigh Stewart singled through the right side, plating Ramirez for Monroe's sixth run. The Express later had the bases loaded with two outs when Medina drew another walk, bringing Stewart home to leave the Express on top, 7-1.
 
With one out in the seventh, Ramirez homered to center once again, making it an 8-1 ballgame. Raileni Amarante followed with a double to center, and then Stewart reached on an error to put runners on the corners. With two outs after a fielder's choice, Nicole Peralta stole second, and a bad throw allowed Amarante to score from third and reach the eventual final score of 9-1.
 
Toni Shawnee was stellar in the circle for the Express, going all seven frames and allowing just one run with six strikeouts to improve to 13-5 overall on the season. Bailey Rickenbrode took the loss for the Pioneers to fall to 4-2.
 
Ramirez had a huge game for the Express, going a perfect 4-for-4 with two homers, a double, six RBIs and three runs scored in the Game 1 win. Stewart hit 1-for-4 with an RBI and a run. Amarante batted 1-for-4 with a double and a run scored. Diaz scored twice after going 1-for-4. Ashley Ulmschneider went 1-for-3, while Peralta finished 1-for-5.
 
GAME 2: Monroe 18, Butler County 7 (5 INN)
The Express got off to a fast start in Game 2. Peralta and Juliana Vasquez opened the game with back-to-back singles, resulting in them ending up on second and third. A groundout by Ramirez brought in Peralta for the game's first run. Diaz reached on an error that plated Vasquez to make it 2-0. After a single by Calderon, Ulmschneider singled to right to bring in Diaz and leave the Express ahead, 3-0.
 
With Peralta on second in the second, Vasquez hit an RBI single to right, pushing Monroe's lead to 4-0. However, the Pioneers stormed back in the bottom of the second. An error allowed Butler County's first run to score, but later in the frame with two runners on, Olivia Vissari hit a three-run homer, tying the game up at 4-4.
 
That was no matter for the Express, who rallied right back into the lead in the third. Calderon singled to right with one down, and then Ulmschneider reached on an error. Genesis Duarte-Suarez then singled to center, plating Calderon to put the Express back in the lead. With the bases loaded and two outs, Vasquez singled into left, scoring Ulmschneider for a 6-4 lead. Medina then dropped down a bunt that was thrown away, allowing three runs to score for the Express to give them a 9-4 advantage.
 
Diaz, Ulmschneider and Duarte-Suarez all singled in the fourth to load the bases with one out. Stewart then hit Monroe's fourth single of the inning, knocking in two runs to make it an 11-4 ballgame. With two down, Vasquez ripped a two-RBI double to right, putting the Express up by nine. Medina added one more run with an RBI single to right field, scoring Vasquez to leave the Express in the lead by 10, 14-4.
 
The Pioneers had two on with two outs for Vissari in the fourth. She then blasted her second three-run homer of the game, bringing Butler County closer at 14-7.
 
The Express put three runners on with one out in the fifth. Peralta then delivered the dagger, launched a grand slam to center field, pushing the score to 18-7 to force the eventual run-rule finish after three final outs in the top of the fifth.
 
Layla Ramos picked up her ninth win of the year with a complete game in Game 2. Kristen Woolstrum took the loss for Butler County to fall to 4-3.
 
Vasquez and Peralta both had huge games for the Express in the district clincher. Vasquez batted a perfect 5-for-5 with two doubles, four RBIs and three runs scored. Peralta finished 3-for-5 with four RBIs and three runs scored after hitting a grand slam in the win. Duarte-Suarez made her return and batted 3-for-4 with three runs and an RBI. Stewart went 1-for-3 with three runs and a pair of RBIs. Ulmschneider went 2-for-3 with three runs and an RBI. Calderon scored twice in a 2-for-3 outing. Medina knocked in a run in a 1-for-4 outing, while Diaz scored a run in a 1-for-4 effort of her own.
 
After two championships series in short order, the Express can now enjoy some rest before their next test. The 2022 NJCAA Division III Softball Championship is scheduled for May 25-28 at Carrier Park Field of Dreams in Syracuse, N.Y. The full bracket will be released in the coming days when the remainder of the District Champions are determined.

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).