SELDEN, N.Y., May 9, 2022 – The Monroe College Express baseball team will play in its first ever Region 15 Championship final on Tuesday, as the No. 3-seeded Express knocked off No. 2 Nassau Community College in Monday's elimination game by a score of 17-9 at Suffolk County Community College. The Express survive with their second straight elimination game victory in this year Region 15 Championship tournament, while Nassau goes home after losing to both Suffolk and Monroe on Monday.
 
The Express could not have asked for a better start to Monday's matchup. Joseph Rosario hit a one-out double, and then Salomon Lluveres and Ernie Farrell both walked to load the bases in the top of the first. Jose Arrieta then singled up the middle, plating two runs for a quick 2-0 edge. Malvin Gutierrez also walked to load the bases again, and then back-to-back walks by Randy Diaz and Jose Ramirez brought in two more for a 4-0 lead. With two outs, Juan Jorge plate two more with a double to left, leaving the Express up, 6-0.
 
Dylan Strang hit an RBI single for the Lions in the bottom of the third, getting Nassau on the board and cutting Monroe's lead to five. However, the Express quickly erased that run in the fourth. Alex Rodriguez walked, and then Jorge singled into right. Rosario singled up the gut to load the bases, and then Lluveres singled once more to plate Rodriguez and make it a 7-1 game.
 
The Lions fought back in the bottom of the fifth, putting four runs on the board to make it a 7-5 ballgame. The Express responded once again in the sixth. Jorge and Rosario hit back-to-back singles to put runners on the corners to start the frame. A balk then brought in Jorge to put the Express back up by three. Farrell followed with an RBI single to make it a four-run game. With two outs, Gutierrez singled in Farrell, leaving Monroe ahead, 10-5.
 
For the second straight inning, the Lions managed to pick up four runs, this time thanks to three Express errors, to get back within a run at 10-9. After a scoreless seventh, the Express started to pull away again in the eighth. Rosario led off with a double, and then Lluveres was hit by a pitch to get two runners on. With one out, Arrieta singled in Rosario to make it an 11-9 game. Gutierrez walked to load the bases, and then Diaz singled in two runs to push Monroe's lead to 13-9.
 
The Express made sure to put the game away with one more rally in the ninth. Rodriguez walked, and then Jorge beat out a bunt. A wild pitch put both runners in scoring position, setting up Rosario for a two-RBI single to right to make it a 15-9 game. Rosario was on third with one out when Farrell singled to right to bring him in and push the lead to seven. After walks by Arrieta and Gutierrez loaded the bases, Diaz grounded out to second, but it was enough to plate Farrell and give the Express a 17-9 advantage, which proved to be the final score to advance the Express and eliminate the Lions.
 
Samuel Tejada picked up the win in relief to improve to 3-0. He did not allow an earned run across 2.2 innings while striking out three batters. Anderson Cuello picked up his second save for the Express by getting the final five outs without allowing a baserunner. Starter Ryan Whitaker took the loss for Nassau after yielding six runs in just one-third of an inning.
 
Rosario had a huge game, going 5-for-6 with two doubles, four runs scored and two RBIs in the win. Jorge brought in two runs and scored twice himself in a 4-for-6 game that included a double. Diaz knocked in four runs and scored once in a 2-for-5 effort in Monday's game. Arrieta tallied three RBIs and scored twice in a 2-for-5 effort. Farrell came around to score on four occasions while plating two runs as well in a 2-for-5 outing. Gutierrez hit 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run. Rodriguez scored two times after going 1-for-3. Lluveres finished 1-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.
 
The Express now need to defeat top-seeded Suffolk twice on Tuesday to claim the Region 15 Championship, while the Sharks will need just won win to take home the Region title after starting the tournament with two wins. Game 1 of the championship round is set for a 12 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).