BLACKWOOD, N.J. - The Monroe College – Bronx softball team suffered a hard-fought loss to Camden County College, 9-7, at Lady Cougars Field on Thursday afternoon. The second game of the doubleheader was suspended due to darkness.
 
The Express (2-11) got on the board first as freshman catcher Brianna Talley stole home with two outs in the top of the first to give Monroe a 1-0 advantage.
 
Camden (2-1) answered with five runs in the bottom frame to put Monroe in a four-run hole. 
 
After the Express fell behind, 6-1, the Blue and Gold began a rally in the top of the third. With runners at the corners and nobody out, sophomore first-base player Angelica Uribe-Perez drilled a double to left field to score both Talley and freshman left fielder Brendalie Oliviery-Baker to narrow Monroe's disadvantage to 6-3. However, Uribe-Perez ended up getting stranded at second as the Express went down in order after that.
 
Later in the afternoon, Monroe deepened its hole to 8-3. The Express got three of those runs back in the top of the sixth inning. After freshman third-base student-athlete Lauren Vuorinen scored the first of the frame on a wild pitch, freshman right fielder Amandy Rodriguez singled on a hard grounder to center field which scored sophomore second-base player Ciara Aviles and freshman shortstop Sonia Rosa to narrow Camden's advantage to 8-6. 
 
The home team scored an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth to extend its benefit to 9-6.
 
In the top of the seventh, sophomore pitcher Hilda Sanchez stepped up to the plate and bunted the ball in front of the catcher and sprinted to first to earn a lead-off single for Monroe. Rosa and Aviles each singled which set up runners at first and second, two outs. Rodriguez came up to the plate and drilled a double to score Rosa and pull the Express to within two, at 9-7, with runners on second and third. Unfortunately for the Express, the next hitter flew out to end the game and clinch the victory for Camden.
 
For Monroe, Uribe-Perez went 2-for-4 with a stolen base, while Rodriguez stole a base of her own. Talley drew three walks and stole just as many bases. Oliviery-Baker went 2-for-4 with a run scored. Vuorinen singled and earned a base on balls. Sanchez worked a walk and stole a base. Rosa scored twice. 
 
For Camden, freshman pitcher Margaret Ralston got the complete-game victory as she struck out eight Monroe hitters.
 
The Express will host Word of Life Bible Institute in a doubleheader on Monday. First pitch at Flowers Park is set for 3:00 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).