MIDDLETOWN, NY – On a beautiful 60 degree day, Monroe Express baseball took to Middletown, NY Sunday afternoon to take on Region 15 opponent, the Orange County Community College Colts, that saw Monroe deliver an emphatic sweep where the road team took game one, 8-4 and game two, 7-0. With the sweep, the Express improve to 9-9.

Monroe Express 8, Orange Colts 4

An early lead helped Monroe defeat Orange 8-4 in their first of two meetings on the day. The  Express scored on a double by Camilo Rodriguez in the first inning, followed by three scores in the second with a single by Ian Faulkner, a single by Antwon Beverly and a sacrifice fly by Randy Diaz. In the bottom of the first, the Colts tied things up at one when Aiden Torpey singled on a 3-1 count, scoring one run.

Monroe pulled away for good with four runs in the aforementioned second stanza. In the strong inning, Faulkner singled on a 1-1 count, scoring one run, Beverly singled on a 2-2 count, scoring one run, and Diaz's sac fly scored one run for the blue and gold.

Moises Figuereo earned the win for the Express where the hurler allowed two hits and two runs over five innings, striking out five. Victor Vilomar and Emmanuel Aviles entered the game out of the bullpen and helped to close out the game in relief. Aviles recorded the last two outs to earn the save for the Express.

For the Colts, Sean Murphy took the loss.The ace lasted three innings, allowing six hits and seven runs while striking out one.

In all, Monroe totaled 11 hits in the victory, as Faulkner went 3-for-3 at the plate to lead the team in hits.

Monroe Express 7, Orange Colts 0

David Pena didn't allow a single run against Orange, throwing a complete game shutout and leading the Express to a 7-0 victory in game two of their Sunday series.

Monroe secured the victory thanks to four runs in the seventh inning, where Ernie Farrell and Camilo Rodriguez all moved runners across the plate with RBIs in the inning. The Express got things started in the first inning when an error scored one run for Monroe. In the seventh, the Express scored four times, where the period's offensive firepower was led by Farrell and Rodriguez, who both drove in runs. One bright spot for the Colats was a single by Francisco Velez in the seventh inning, but Monroe kept their foot down, not allowing Orange to capitalize on the hit.

Pena earned the win for the Express, where the pitcher went seven innings, allowing zero runs on one hit and striking out four.

Joe Castellanos took the loss for Orange, surrendering seven runs on eight hits over six and two-thirds innings, striking out ten.

Monroe tallied ten hits in the game, claimed by Rodriguez, Bryant Quezada, and Jabez King who each collected two hits in the shutout victory. Velez led the Colts with one hit in three at bats.

The Express will travel north Tuesday (Mar. 28) to take on the Hudson Valley Community College Vikings in Troy, NY. First pitch is scheduled for 4 PM.

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).