NEWTON, NJ – Monroe Express baseball took to the road for a non-conference matchup against the Sussex County Community College Skylanders that saw Monroe fall 8-4 in nine innings. The Express fall to 17-16 with the loss.

The Express fired up the offense in the first inning, scoring two runs when Gregory Espinal doubled to left field. Monroe extended the lead in the second after Hecxiel Perez slapped a home run to center field.

Sussex knotted the game up at three in the bottom of the third inning, when Terryn Badcock singled on a 3-0 count, scoring two runs. The Skylanders pulled away for good with two runs in the fourth, after Jake Wagner's sacrifice fly scored one run for Sussex.

The home team scored three runs in the seventh inning as their big inning was driven by a sacrifice fly by Bradyn Shaffer, a home run by Logan Kobis, and a groundout by Jacob Greene.

Jin Sakata was the winning pitcher for Sussex as he surrendered zero runs on zero hits over one inning, striking out one and walking zero.

David Villafane took the loss for Monroe. Villafane lasted two-thirds of an inning, allowing three hits and two runs while striking out one and walking one.

Emmanuel Aviles started the game for the Express. The hurler lasted two and two-thirds innings, allowing two hits and three runs while striking out one and walking one.

Tanner MacLean started the game for Sussex where the pitcher went one inning, allowing two runs on two hits and striking out three.
Monroe launched one home run on the day, claimed by Perez who had a dinger in the second inning. The Express totaled ten hits in the game. Espinal led Monroe with three hits in five at bats.

The Skylanders racked up nine hits. Kobis and Lorenzo Curbelo each managed two hits for Sussex. 

The Express return home on Friday, April 21 for a Region 15 bout against the Bronx Community College Broncos inside Roberto Clemente State Park in Bronx, 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).