BROOKLYN, NY – Monroe Express baseball hit the road Sunday to conclude their season series against #9 ranked Kingsborough Community College Wave, winning game one 7-6 and dropping game two 10-8. The Express' record is now 16-15, and are 5-5 in Region 15 competition.

Game one: Monroe Express 7, Kingsborough Wave 6

Monroe took the lead late and defeated Kingsborough 7-6 in game one of Saturday's doubleheader. The Express was down 6-3 in the top of the sixth inning when Gregory Espinal homered on a 1-1 count, scoring four runs.

The Express got on the board in the first inning, when Camilo Rodriguez singled on a 1-0 count, scoring one run. Ernie Farrell scored the Express' second run of the period, reaching on an error by Kingsborough catcher Justin Ramsey, increasing the lead to 2-0.

Monroe allowed the Wave to get back into the ball game, giving up six runs in the third inning. Kingsborough's big inning was driven by singles by Aldo Thomas, Nicholas Piazza, and Ramsey, a home run by Benjamin Laciano, and a double by Thomas Laino. 

Trailing by four, Randy Diaz scored after Ian Faulkner walked, and with bases loaded Gregory Espinal slapped a huge go-ahead grand slam to put the Express in front 7-6. Kingsborough was unable to record another run, giving Monroe the narrow game one victory.

Tyler Cadena earned the win for the Express, as the hurler surrendered zero runs on one hit over three and two-thirds innings, striking out two and walking one.  Adrian Quezada threw one inning in relief out of the bullpen. Quezada recorded the last three outs to earn the save for Monroe. Alex Bello-Rodriguez started the game going two and a third innings, allowing six runs on eight hits, striking out one and walking one.

Jonathan Fonseca took the loss for Kingsborough. Fonseca lasted seven innings, allowing eight hits and seven runs while striking out six and walking one.

Monroe launched one home run on the day. Espinal put one out in the sixth inning.

The Express had eight hits in the game, as Farrell and Rodriguez all had two hits to lead Monroe.  Monroe didn't commit a single error in the field, while Hecxiel Perez had the most chances in the field with five.

Thomas led Kingsborough with three hits in four at bats.

Game two: Kingsborough Wave 10, Monroe Express 8

It came down to the last play, but the Express ended up on the wrong end of a 10-8 defeat to Kingsborough in game two. The Wave was down 8-6 in the bottom of the seventh inning when Christopher Jace homered on a 2-0 count, scoring three runs.

Monroe opened up scoring in the first inning, when Diaz scored after stealing third and tagging up. A batter later, Farrell scored on a ground ball to second base hit by Faulkner. The Wave got on the board in the second, when Laino scored after a Jace single to center field. 

Trailing by three in the top of the fourth inning, the Express tied things up at three when Espinal hit a solo homer, his second of the day.

Monroe tallied four runs in the sixth inning. The blue and gold batters contributing to the high scoring period included Bryant Quezada, Diaz, and Rodriguez, who all drove in runs. The Express opened up a five run lead with the strong offensive stanza. The Wave began to climb back, scoring a run in the sixth, and scoring six runs in the bottom of the seventh, including Jace's walk-off home run, giving Kingsborough the 10-8 victory.

Frank Cullen took the win for the Wave. The ace surrendered two runs on two hits over one and two-thirds innings, striking out two.

Kevin Montes took the loss for the Express. The hurler allowed two runs on two hits and walked zero. David Pena started the game for Monroe going two and a third innings, allowing three runs on five hits, striking out one and walking one.

The Express socked one home run in the game, claimed by Espinal who went deep in the fourth inning.

Monroe collected nine hits on the day with Diaz, Faulkner, and Quezada all having two hits to lead the team.

Kingsborough totaled 11 hits in the game as Laino led with four hits in four at bats.

The Express return home Tuesday, April 18th for a Region 15 nine-inning ball game with Bronx Community College inside Roberto Clemente State Park in Bronx, NY. First pitch is at 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).