HAVERHILL, Mass., May 14, 2022 – A tremendous run through the postseason came to an end for the Monroe College Express baseball team on Saturday, as the Express dropped Game 2 of the Northeast District Championship series to No. 3 Northern Essex Community College at Trinity Stadium. The Knights will now represent the Northeast District at the 2022 NJCAA Division III Baseball World Series, while the Express see a historic season come to a close.
 
The Express fell into an early hole when an error extended the top of the second for the Knights. Northern Essex managed to put five unearned runs on the board to take a sizable lead early in the contest.
 
The Knights rallied with two outs in the top of the third as well. A pair of singles put two runners on, and then two passed balls brought one runner in to make it 6-0. Lucas Berube then singled in another run to leave the Knights up, 7-0.
 
Richie Williams led off the fourth with a double for the Knights, and then Chris Bear drew a walk. A double steal with runners on the corners brought in Williams for Northern Essex's eighth run. With one out, Jared Coppola tripled to left to score Bear. Richard Matos De La Cruz then brought in Coppola on a sacrifice fly to left to leave the Knights on top, 10-0.
 
The Express finally broke through in the bottom of the sixth. Randy Diaz led off with a double, and then Ernie Farrell beat out a single to put runners on the corners. A walk by Jose Arrieta loaded the bases, allowing Salomon Lluveres to bring in Diaz on a sacrifice fly to left. With the bases loaded and two outs later in the frame, Malvin Gutierrez drew a walk, bringing Anthony Gonzalez Jr. home to leave Monroe down, 10-2.
 
Coppola hit a solo homer in the eighth to give the Knights an 11-2 lead. The Express then got themselves back on the scoreboard in their next at-bat. Arrieta led off with a walk, and then Ruben Ogando drew one himself with one out. An error on a double steal attempt allowed Arrieta to come all the way home, making it an 11-3 score.
 
Berube reached on an error in the top of the ninth that put him on second base. He moved to third on a fly out, and then scored on a wild pitch to make it a 12-3 game. The Knights later added a run on an RBI double by Nicholas White to bring the score to 13-3.
 
Todd Tringale got the win for the Knights with 5.2 innings of two-run ball, improving to 9-0 on the season. Christopher Dominguez shouldered the loss for the Express.
 
Diaz batted 3-for-5 with a run and a double in the game. Lluveres hit 1-for-3 with an RBI. Juan Jorge went 1-for-4 in the game, while Farrell finished 1-for-5.
 
The Express conclude by far the best season in the program's young history with a 24-23 overall record, Monroe's first season above .500. The Express won their first-ever Region 15 Championship with a miraculous comeback run through the tournament last week.

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).