NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. – The Monroe University – Bronx softball team put up a strong effort in its home-opening doubleheader against NJCAA Division II Orange County Community College, on Sunday afternoon, but fell short. The Express were outlasted in Game 1 by a tally of 13-11 in eight innings. The Colts (2-0) won Game 2 by an 8-1 score.

The opening contest was tied at two in the bottom of the fourth. With runners on second and third, one out, Jayda Delgado ripped an RBI single to score Ebony Hernandez to give the Express a 3-2 lead. Two batters later, Michelle Cortes Molina hit a sacrifice fly to center which scored Karla Recio Rodriguez and extended Monroe's surplus to 4-2.

After a scoreless fourth inning by both teams, Orange County had a big fifth with five runs scored. The big blow came off the bat of Alexandra Cushing as she came up with the bases loaded – one out and drilled a double to right which cleared the bases to break the tie and give the Colts a 7-4 lead. 

Monroe – Bronx (0-10) countered in the home half of the fifth. With runners on second and third, no outs, Rossel Hercules delivered an RBI base hit to pull the Express to within two. The Blue and Gold ended up loading the bases with one out. Valentina Arias slapped an infield single towards the mound that scored the sixth run for the home team. Tiara Desanto was up next, and she lined a double over the center fielder's head which scored two runs and catapulted Monroe to an 8-7 edge. The Express added one more run in the frame to earn a 9-7 advantage after five innings of play. 

Orange County once again had a productive frame with the bats in the sixth as Caitlyn Higby drilled a three-run homer to cap a four-run stanza and put Monroe in an 11-9 hole. 

Monroe - Bronx got one run back in the home half of the sixth. The two teams headed to the bottom of the seventh with the Colts nursing an 11-10 lead. 

The Express had a runner on third with two outs. Taina Nieves stepped up to the plate and hit the ball towards the mound. The opposing pitcher committed a throwing error and Desanto scored to tie it at 11. Nieves advanced all the way to third on the play but could not cross home plate before the end of the inning so extras were needed.

The automatic runner on second to start the first extra inning rule applied to this contest. Alissandra Soto stepped up to the plate and immediately took advantage as she launched the ball to left and it ended up being a two-run homer to put the Express in a 13-11 hole. 

Monroe's bats could not produce a run in the home half of the eighth which secured the back-and-forth win for the Colts.

Desanto hit two doubles for the Express during the opening contest. Delgado and Hercules each stole two bases with the latter scoring twice and working two walks. Nieves picked up two stolen bases. Cortes Molina drove in two runs. 

In the circle, Taylor Horaz got the win for Orange County as she pitched three innings of relief and struck out four Monroe players in the process. Darlene Pena Puente took the loss for the Express.

In Game 2, The Colts earned a wire-to-wire victory as they scored at least one run over the course of the first four innings of the contest. Nieves scored Monroe's one run in the bottom of the second on an error from Orange County's defense.

In the circle for Game 2, Horaz pitched a complete game to earn her second victory of the afternoon, striking out three batters and not giving up an earned run in seven innings pitched. Kimberly Coste took the loss for Monroe.

For the Blue and Gold at the plate, Desanto, Recio Rodriguez, Delgado, and Nevaeh Feliciano each reached base with a single, while Feliciano and Nieves each stole a base.

The Express will return to Flowers Park on Saturday for a doubleheader against Bucks County Community College. First pitch is set for noon.

ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE UNIVERSITY 
The athletic program at Monroe University 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 University marching band, 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).