BRONX – The Monroe College – Bronx baseball team earned a big-time Region 15 victory by knocking off nationally ranked No. 14 Suffolk County Community College, 12-1, at Roberto Clemente State Park on Tuesday afternoon. The Express bump their record to 7-1 in Region 15 play (9-14 overall). Suffolk County drops to 15-11 overall and 5-3 in regional contests.
 
Sophomore pitcher Adrian Quezada had another stellar outing for the Express, as he struck out 12 batters and gave up just one earned run on two hits in seven innings pitched to earn his third straight victory on the mound and second complete game of the season. He has now fanned 27 opposing batters in his last two starts.
 
Second-year catcher Hecxiel Perez drilled three home runs during the afternoon. Two of them were two-run shots and he produced five total RBIs during the game. He finished the day 3-for-3 and reached base four times.
 
"It shows the hard work the guys put in day in and day out," Express Head Baseball Coach Bryan Diaz said. "We set high expectations on these guys, and they just come through."
 
It was a pitchers' duel early on as Adrian Quezada and Suffolk County's freshman starting pitcher Dylan Gronenthal matched zero for zero during the first three innings. 
 
In the bottom of the fourth, the Express' bats broke through as three different two-run homers were hit during the frame to give the Express a 6-0 advantage in a blink of an eye.
 
It all started with a leadoff double by sophomore left fielder Gregory Espinal. He was driven home by Perez's first of three home runs during the afternoon, this one a two-run shot to left that put the Express on the board at 2-0. 
 
Sophomore first baseman Camilo Rodriguez reached with a single and then advanced to second on a fielder's choice. Up next was rookie shortstop Yan Ortiz Torres who blistered the ball over the left-center field fence to inflate Monroe's lead to 4-0. 
 
With two outs, freshman second baseman Jeanpaul Alicea Albertorio earned a base on balls. Up next was sophomore center fielder Bryant Quezada who launched the ball deep to center field and over the fence for a two-run homer to pad Monroe's advantage to 6-0.
 
After Adrian Quezada pitched yet another scoreless inning in the fifth, Perez gave Monroe more breathing room in the bottom frame thanks to a solo shot in left for his second of the day and giving Monroe a 7-0 cushion.
 
The Express' lineup had a big sixth inning, scoring five runs. First, it was a two-run triple down the right field line courtesy of freshman right fielder Alfredo Jimenez Jr. Then, Perez drilled his third home run of the game, a two-run shot to right center, to extend the Blue and Gold's benefit to 11-0. After that, the Express loaded the bases. Freshman designated hitter Jesus Guerrero worked a walk with the bases loaded to score Rodriguez from third for Monroe's 12^th run.
 
Suffolk County got a run courtesy of a homer by freshman outfielder Joseph Lomonaco in the top of the seventh, but Adrian Quezada shut the door by striking out the final hitter of the game to clinch the statement Region 15 win for the Express.
 
For Monroe at the plate, Bryant Quezada went 4-for-4 and scored two runs. Espinal went 2-for-4 with a run scored. Rodriguez had a productive day by going 2-for-2, including a double, while drawing a walk and scoring a run. Freshman third baseman Giovanny Flores hit a single and came around to score. Ortiz Torres earned a base on balls, while Alicea Albertorio worked two walks and scored twice. Jimenez Jr. scored a run. 
 
Monroe – Bronx will host Nassau Community College in a Region 15 single game on Wednesday at Roberto Clemente State Park. First pitch is set for 4:00 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).