NEWTOWN, Pa. – The Monroe College – Bronx softball team split its doubleheader with Bucks County Community College, at Centurion Softball Field, on Sunday afternoon. The Express (8-21) lost the first game, 13-5, but bounced back to win the second contest, 12-6.
 
"Today was an excellent hard-fought win," Express Head Softball Coach Lauren Farina said. "After losing game one, we were able to dig down deep, come out swinging, and keep the lead through the full game. We fixed all the mistakes we made in game one and came out on top."
 
Bucks County (11-7) took complete control of the first game early, as they scored five runs in the first and added six more in the second to take a commanding 11-0 lead. 
 
The Express had a productive third inning, scoring four runs. During Monroe's four-run frame, sophomore pitcher Angelica Uribe-Perez stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded. She drove in two runs on a single to put the Blue and Gold on the board. After Monroe scored the third run on an error, rookie third-base student-athlete Lauren Vuorinen came up and slapped an infield single to allow Uribe-Perez to score from third to narrow Monroe's deficit to 11-4.
 
Bucks County added a run in the bottom of the fourth to inflate its lead to eight. In the top of the fifth, Uribe-Perez launched a double with one out. After advancing to third, she ended up scoring on an RBI groundout off the bat of sophomore first-base player Hilda Sanchez for the Express' fifth run.
 
However, Bucks County added a run in the home half of the fifth to clinch the victory in game one, 13-5.
 
For the Express at the plate, Vuorinen went 3-for-3 and stole three bases. Freshman center fielder Ciara Harriott drilled a triple and scored a run. Classmate Brendalie Oliviery-Baker singled, worked a walk, and scored a run. First-year shortstop Brianna Talley went 2-for-2, drew a walk, stole a base, and came around to score. Sanchez reached base with a single.
 
In game two, Talley got the Express off to a good start in the top of the first by drilling a home run to center field to give her team a 1-0 lead. 
 
The Express added another run in the top of the second, thanks to Vuorinen scoring from third off a throw from home plate to second base on a stolen base attempt to extend the Blue and Gold's lead to 2-0. 
 
With Monroe up, 2-1, in the top of the third, freshman designated player Genesis Matias and Oliviery-Baker each scored from third on a wild pitch to extend the Express' lead to 4-1. Monroe earned its third run of the inning, and fifth of the game, thanks to Uribe-Perez stealing second and then Talley scoring from third on the throw to pad the Express' advantage to 5-1. 
 
In the top of the fourth, Monroe had runners on first and second with two outs. Talley lined a double to left which scored Matias from second. The next batter was Uribe-Perez who slapped a two-run single to pad the Express' cushion to 8-1.
 
Bucks County chipped away and narrowed the Blue and Gold's lead to 8-6 after six innings of play.
 
The Express managed to push across four key insurance runs in the top of the seventh, highlighted by an RBI double from Harriott, a run-scoring single by Talley, and an RBI base hit courtesy of Vuorinen, to extend Monroe's cushion to 12-6.
 
Sanchez then retired the opposing lineup in the seventh to clinch the victory for the Express.
 
In the circle, Sanchez earned the complete-game win for Monroe – Bronx by striking out three batters in seven innings pitched.
 
At the plate for the Express, Talley went 3-for-4, scored four runs, stole two bases, and drew a walk. Matias earned four walks, scored three times, and stole a base. Uribe-Perez reached base with three singles, stole a pair of bases, and earned a base on balls. Vuorinen went 3-for-4, stole a base, and worked a walk. Harriott worked a walk and scored twice. Oliviery-Baker hit a single, drove in a run, reached base via a walk, and stole a base. Sanchez and rookie second-base player Sonia Rosa each drew a walk.
 
Monroe – Bronx will host nationally ranked No. 8 Suffolk County Community College in a Region 15 doubleheader on Tuesday afternoon. 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).