EDISON, N.J. – The Monroe College baseball team earned a key non-region road victory on Sunday afternoon, knocking off nationally ranked No. 15 Middlesex College in game two of its doubleheader by a score of 13-9 at Middlesex Baseball Stadium. Earlier in the day, the Express were defeated by the Colts, 21-8. 
 
The second game was tied at nine in the top of the seventh with two outs. The Express (1-10) broke through with four runs, highlighted by the official game-winning RBI infield single off the bat of freshman second baseman Jeanpaul Alicea Albertorio Jr. that scored freshman outfielder Alfredo Jimenez Jr. from third to break the tie. The Express scored three insurance runs later in the inning and then shut down the Colts' lineup in the bottom of the seventh to clinch their first victory of the season. 
 
"Good team win," Express Head Baseball Coach Bryan Diaz said. "Great performances from our pitching staff and our offense for fighting to the end and never giving up." Diaz earns his first ever victory as head coach of the Express baseball team. 
 
In the opening game, Monroe stormed out of the gate by scoring three runs in the top of the first. First, it was a two-out RBI single off the bat of freshman infielder Jayden Moya that scored sophomore outfielder Gregory Espinal from second base. Then, second-year catcher Hecxiel Perez stepped up to the plate and drilled a two-run homer to left to extend the Express' lead to 3-0. 
 
Middlesex responded in the bottom of the first by scoring 14 runs to take a commanding 11-run lead in a blink of an eye. Monroe got two of those runs back in the top of the second, highlighted by an RBI double courtesy of Jimenez Jr.
 
In the top of the fifth, freshman third-baseman Giovanny Flores drilled an RBI single and sophomore infielder Camilo Rodriguez drew a bases-loaded walk to shrink Monroe's deficit to 15-7. It was not enough as Monroe fell in the opening game.
 
For the Express, Moya went 2-for-4, produced two RBIs, and scored just as many runs. Alicea Albertorio produced two hits in three at bats, scored a run, stole a base, and earned a walk. Flores singled, picked up an RBI, and worked a walk. Sophomore center fielder Bryant Quezada singled and came around to score. Rodriguez recorded a hit and Espinal added two runs scored, a pair of stolen bases, and just as many walks. 
 
In game two, the Express got on the board first as Flores drilled a run-scoring single, with two outs, to left field which scored Espinal.
 
In the top of the second, Monroe loaded the bases with nobody out. Quezada stepped up to the plate and drilled a fly ball center field. It was caught but the ball was hit deep enough to score freshman catcher Yadiel Santana from third to give the Express a 2-0 advantage. The next batter, Jimenez Jr., lined a single to left which scored Rodriguez from second to extend the Blue and Gold's lead to 3-0. Freshman infielder Yan Ortiz Torres and Jimenez Jr. eventually came around to score thanks to miscues by Middlesex and Monroe padded its benefit to 5-0. 
 
Middlesex got on run back in the bottom of the third. In the top of the fourth, Quezada scored from third on a wild pitch to help Monroe regain a five-run lead, at 6-1. Later in the frame, Alicea Albertorio drilled a two-run single to increase Monroe's advantage to 8-1. 
 
The nationally ranked No. 15 Colts did not stay down as they scored four runs in the home half of the fourth, and added another in the bottom of the fifth, to narrow Monroe's lead to 8-6. 
 
Monroe – Bronx scored an insurance run in the top of the sixth, thanks to an RBI single by Flores to score Espinal to extend its lead to 9-6. 
 
Middlesex countered with three runs in the bottom of the sixth, the first via a sacrifice fly and the next two on a two-run single, to tie the game at nine. Then, freshman pitcher Yliandy Trinidad entered the game on the mound for the Express and struck out the opposing hitter looking, to keep the game tied heading to the final scheduled inning of play.
 
In the top of the seventh, three consecutive Express hitters were hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out. Middlesex got the next batter to strike out, so it became two outs, the bases loaded, and the game knotted up at nine runs apiece. Alicea Albertorio took a 1-0 pitch and grounded the ball sharply to third. He beat out the throw to first which allowed Jimenez Jr. to score from third and give the Express a 10-9 edge. The bases remained loaded. In the next a bat, an error by the right fielder allowed three runs to score to extend Monroe's advantage to 13-9.
 
In the bottom of the seventh. Trinidad retired the side, in order, to secure the key victory for the Express. He ended up getting the win on the mound by retiring all four batters he faced. 
 
Sophomore pitcher Orel Castellar started the game for Monroe and went 3.2 innings giving up no earned runs and striking out four opposing batters.
 
At the plate for the Express, Flores went 2-for-4 with two runs batted in and a walk. Alicea Albertorio crossed home plate once. Perez tallied a hit, drew two walks, and scored a run. Quezada picked up a run batted in, earned a walk, stole a base, and crossed home plate. Jimenez Jr. and Espinal each tallied a hit and scored three runs with the former driving in a run and earning a walk, while the latter stole a base. Rodriguez went 2-for-4 with a run scored and a walk. Santana and Ortiz Torres each produced a hit and came around to score. 
 
Monroe – Bronx will open Region 15 play on Tuesday with a single game against Borough of Manhattan Community College. First pitch at Padavan-Preller Field is set for 3:30 p.m.

ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE COLLEGE
The athletic program at Monroe College encompasses a total of 31 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 seven 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/X (@MonroeExpress), Instagram (@MonroeExpress), and Threads (@MonroeExpress).