BELLEROSE, N.Y. – The Monroe College baseball team opened Region 15 play with a convincing victory on the road over Borough of Manhattan Community College, 17-1, at Padavan-Preller Field on Tuesday afternoon. The Express (2-10, 1-0 Region 15) have now won two straight games.
 
Sophomore pitcher Adrian Quezada had a magnificent game on the mound for the Express, as he struck out 11 batters and gave up zero earned runs and just one hit in seven innings pitched to earn the complete-game victory.
 
"Dominating pitching by Adrian Quezada bolstered by offensive explosion," Express Head Coach Bryan Diaz said.
 
Early on, the Express' lineup loaded the bases in the top of the first but could not push a run across. Monroe got on the board in the top of the second as freshman second baseman Jeanpaul Alicea Albertorio scored from third on a balk to give the Blue and Gold a 1-0 lead. 
 
Monroe – Bronx inflated its advantage in the top of the fourth by scoring three runs in the frame, highlighted by an RBI single off the bat of freshman right fielder Alfredo Jimenez Jr. 
 
The Express broke the game open with a five-run fifth inning to take a commanding 9-0 lead. The key plays were an RBI triple by sophomore center fielder Bryant Quezada and a run-scoring single by second-year left fielder Gregory Espinal.
 
The Panthers (0-1, 0-1 Region 15) got on the board in the home half of the sixth, but the Express countered with eight runs in the top of the sixth to pad their cushion to 17-1. In that huge inning for the Express, Espinal came up with the bases loaded and drove in two runs on a single. He ended up scoring from third on a sacrifice fly by freshman third baseman Giovanny Flores. Alicea Albertorio produced a run-scoring single during the frame. The big blow of the inning came off the bat of sophomore first baseman Camilo Rodriguez as he drove in two runs with a triple to right field. Bryant Quezada put a cap on the inning with a single that scored Rodriguez. 
 
The Express went on to capture the Region 15 win.
 
For Monroe, Bryant Quezada went 3-for-5 with four stolen bases, two runs scored, and a walk. Jimenez Jr. went 2-for-3 and added three runs, a walk, and a stolen base. Rodriguez had three hits, including a double, and scored twice. 
 
Also helping the Express was freshman designated hitter Jayden Moya who scored two runs and stole a base. Second-year catcher Hecxiel Perez produced a hit, scored a run, drew a pair of walks, and stole a base. Alicea Albertorio crossed home plate twice, worked a walk, and stole a base. Freshman shortstop Yan Ortiz Torres had a productive game with three runs scored, just as many stolen bases, a single, and a duo of walks. Flores earned a base on balls.
 
Monroe – Bronx and BMCC will have a rematch on the same field on Thursday afternoon. The single-game Region 15 contest will begin at 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).