HAMPTON, VA – Monroe Express baseball took to Hampton, VA Saturday morning for their 2023 season opener against the Virginia Peninsula Community College Gators in a doubleheader that saw both teams split wins in today's first half of their series. The Express took the first game 9-3, and the Gators took game two 6-5. The Express begin the season 1-1.

Following the Action

Monroe Express 9, VPCC Gators 3

• Randy Diaz slugs a ground ball, and reaches on an error by pitcher Grant Atkins. With one player on base, Camilo Rodriguez hit a single to advance Ernie Farrell to second base.  The Gators reliever then struck out hitter Gregory Espinal, ending the inning for the Express. 
• Adrian Quezada made quick work of VPCC's hitters, with three straight ground outs.
• The Express got into the scoring column in the top of the second, after Jose Zabala Rodriguez slugged a line drive to left field, pushing Nasir Useini over the home plate.
• Randy Diaz followed this up in similar fashion, giving Monroe a 2-0 advantage going into the bottom of the second.
• Leading 3-2, Monroe scored two consecutive runs in the top of the fifth off the Gators hurler.
• The Express' final act of the game came from an Ian Faulker score off a home plate theft, followed by a Ramsel Jerez ground out.
• Quezada earned the win for Monroe, going seven innings, allowing three runs on three hits, striking out seven and walking zero.

VPCC Gators 6, Monroe Express 5

• The Gators broke the scoring ice in the bottom of the first, after Pablo Veras doubled to right field, putting two baserunners over home plate to lead 2-0.
• Zabala Rodriguez answered with a homer to left field to cut into the early deficit. With two outs on the count, Ernie Farrell connected with a big time double to run three Express players in to give Monroe a 4-2 lead.
• Two innings later, Rodriguez returned the favor with a double to center field to add another run to the Express tally.
• VPCC would not be denied, scoring two runs in the bottom of the fifth.
• Both teams slugged it out, until Gator hitter Jude Morton hit a walk off home run to run he and Michael Adams over home plate to get the win, and split the day's doubleheader.

The Express finish their Virginia road trip Sunday (Feb. 19) in a non-conference doubleheader against the Virginia Peninsula Community College Gators at 11 AM.

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).