BRONX, NY – Monroe Express baseball picked up their second win of the week by a narrow margin Friday afternoon against #9 ranked Kingsborough Community College with a final of 18-17 inside Roberto Clemente State Park. With the victory, Monroe scored a season-high 18 runs in the close victory. The Express improve to 15-14 on the season, and 4-4 in the conference standings. 

The Express and the Wave played an action-packed back-and-forth game that saw the blue and gold come away with the victory. The game was tied at 17 with Monroe batting in the bottom of the eighth when Ian Faulkner drew a walk, scoring one run.

Monroe got on the board in the first inning when Camilo Rodriguez homered on the first pitch of the at bat, scoring two runs. The Express went up 3-0 after Ernie Farrell connected on the second home run of the day.

Despite falling down by six runs in the seventh inning, Kingsborough tried to fight back. The Wave scored nine runs in the failed comeback including a groundout by Aldo Thomas, a double by Thomas Laino, a home run by Benjamin Laciano and a home run by Frank Cullen.

The Express tallied five runs in the seventh inning, putting the pressure on, led by singles by Ramsel Jerez, Randy Diaz, and Farrell and a fielder's choice by Rodriguez. Trailing by three runs going into the eighth, Jose Zabala Rodriguez connected on a momentum swinging home run on the first pitch of the at bat. Monroe tied things up after Jerez scored on a single to center field hit by Diaz. The go-ahead run came after Faulkner drew a run, putting the Express in the lead, cementing victory.

David Pena earned the victory on the pitcher's mound for the Express. The hurler surrendered one run on three hits over one and one-third innings, striking out one and walking zero. Luis Lopez, Tyler Cadena, and Kevin Montes all put in work in relief out of the bullpen, steering their team towards the victory.  Pena recorded the last four outs to earn the save for Monroe.

Lavernson Elliot took the loss for Kingsborough. Elliot surrendered four runs on four hits over two-thirds of an inning, striking out one and walking zero.

Samuel Tejada started the game for Monroe, allowing five hits and three runs over four and two-thirds innings, striking out two and walking one. Manuel Ariza started the game for the Wave and went five and a third innings, allowing six runs on eight hits and striking out four.

Monroe hit three home runs on the day, as Farrell had a long ball in the third inning, Rodriguez had a dinger in the first and Zabala Rodriguez had a homer in the eighth.

The Express scattered 20 hits in the game as Diaz led the Express with five hits in six at bats.

Kingsborough had 17 hits in the game. Laciano went 4-for-6 at the plate to lead the Wave in hits. Kingsborough stole six bases during the game as Piazza led the way with three.

The Express finish their season series against the Kingsborough Community College Wave on Saturday, April 15 in a Region 15 doubleheader inside Kingsborough Athletics Field in Brooklyn, NY. First pitch is scheduled for 12 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).