SUFFERN, N.Y. – The Monroe College – Bronx baseball team continued its winning ways on Thursday by defeating NJCAA Division II Rockland Community College in a high-scoring affair, 13-10, at Rockland CC Baseball Field on Thursday afternoon. The Express (3-10) extend their winning streak to three games.
 
Monroe - Bronx trailed 1-0 after the opening inning. Sophomore first baseman Camilo Rodriguez led off the top of the second by drawing a walk. After advancing to second and then going to third, he ended up scoring on a wild pitch to allow the Express to tie the game at one. 
 
Rockland (3-18) led off the bottom of the second with a single but Monroe – Bronx erased the base runner thanks to sophomore starting pitcher Jonathan Rondon fielding a grounder and throwing it to freshman shortstop Yan Ortiz Torres to get the lead runner and then Ortiz Torres threw it to Rodriguez at first to get the batter out and complete the 1-6-3 ground-ball double play. 
 
The Express took the lead in the top of the third thanks to freshman right fielder Alfredo Jimenez Jr. scoring on an error. The Hawks countered with three runs in the bottom frame to regain the advantage at 4-2. 
 
In the top of the fourth, Monroe had runners on second and third with only one out. Sophomore left fielder Gregory Espinal drilled a double to right-center field, allowing Jimenez Jr. and Ortiz Torres to score and tie the game at four runs apiece. Espinal stole third and then came around to score thanks to an RBI single off the bat of sophomore designated hitter Hecxiel Perez which gave the Blue and Gold a 5-4 benefit.
 
After Rockland tied the game in the bottom of the fourth, Monroe's lineup broke out with three runs in the top of the fifth, highlighted by a two-run double to center by Perez to propel the Express to an 8-5 vantage. 
 
Monroe took an 8-6 lead into the top of the sixth where they padded its lead to four runs thanks to an RBI single each by Ortiz Torres and sophomore center fielder Bryant Quezada. 
 
The Hawks pulled to within 10-7 in the bottom of the sixth. The Express scored three key insurance runs in the top of the seventh with the big blow of the inning coming off the bat of Ortiz Torres who drilled a two-run double to center field, sending freshman second baseman Jeanpaul Alicea Albertorio and Rodriguez home to inflate Monroe's cushion to 13-7. 
 
Rockland scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh to pull to within 13-9 and still had a runner on third with two outs. Sophomore pitcher Didier Hernandez entered the game on the mound for Monroe and retired the first batter he faced for the third out and prevented the opposition from narrowing the deficit even more. Hernandez faced the minimum number of batters in the home half of the eighth, thanks in large part to an inning-ending 5-4-3 ground-ball double play to keep the score 13-9 in favor of the Express.
 
Rockland scored one more run in the bottom of the ninth to pull to within three, but Hernandez was able to get the final batter to fly out to left which clinched the 13-10 victory for the Express. 
 
Freshman pitcher Jayden Moya earned the win on the mound for Monroe in relief as he struck out four batters in 3.2 innings pitched. Hernandez closed the game out for the Express by giving up no earned runs and just one hit, while fanning a pair of batters, in 2.1 innings pitched.
 
At the plate, Ortiz Torres had a big game for the Express by going four-for-four with two doubles, three runs batted in, just as many runs scored, two stolen bases, and a walk. Espinal went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles, two runs scored, just as many walks, and a stolen base. Perez drilled three hits and scored a run. Rodriguez went 2-for-4 and earned a pair of walks. Alicea Albertorio walked three times, scored twice, and stole a pair of bases. Jimenez Jr. scored a duo of runs, worked a walk, and stole a base. Freshman third baseman Giovanny Flores and rookie catcher Yadiel Santana each chipped in for the Express by earning a base on balls. Quezada scored one run.
 
Monroe – Bronx will take on Borough of Manhattan Community College in a Region 15 game at Padavan-Preller Field on Friday afternoon. First pitch 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).