Express Softball Closes Season in Northeast District Championship Series Against No. 6 Rhode Island
NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. – The Monroe College – Bronx softball team had its incredible season come to an end on Saturday afternoon with a pair of hard-fought losses in the Northeast District Championship Series to nationally ranked No. 6 Community College of Rhode Island at Flowers Park Softball Field. The Express dropped game one by a score of 11-8 and lost the second game by retiring during the contest.
The Knights (35-6) earn the Northeast District Championship and an automatic bid into the NJCAA Division III Softball College World Series.
The Express (12-28) had a successful season as they captured the Region 15 Championship, had eight players earn All-Region 15 team honors, freshman third-base student-athlete
Lauren Vuorinen earning both the Region 15 Tournament's Most Valuable Player honor and the Regional Gold Glove Award, Head Coach
Lauren Farina being selected as the Region 15 Coach of the Year, and six players making it to the Region 15 All-Tournament team.
In the opening game, sophomore pitcher
Hilda Sanchez retired the Knights' lineup in order during the top of the first inning. However, Rhode Island scored three runs in the top of the second to earn a 3-0 advantage.
The Express fell behind, 4-0, heading to the bottom of the fifth but began to claw their way back into the game. Freshman center fielder
Ciara Harriott launched the ball into the gap in left center and all the way to the fence. She came around to score for the inside-the-park home run to pull the Blue and Gold to within three, at 4-1.
With Monroe down, 5-1, the Express had a big opportunity with runners on the corners and two outs. Harriott stepped up to the plate and drilled the ball over the center fielder's head and all the way to the fence. Harriott once again came around to score for her second inside-the-park home run of the game, this time a three-run shot, to pull Monroe to within one, at 5-4.
Unfortunately for the Express, the Knights scored four runs in the sixth, and then two more in the seventh, to take a commanding 11-4 hold.
Monroe – Bronx did not go down without a fight as they had runners on first and second, one out, in the bottom of the seventh. Freshman left fielder
Brendalie Oliviery-Baker slapped a single to left which scored sophomore second-base player
Ciara Aviles from second to pull Monroe to within six. Then, freshman catcher
Brianna Talley stepped up to the plate and smacked a three-run inside-the-park homer to center which slice Monroe's deficit in half at 11-8. However, Rhode Island was able to get the next two outs to secure the win and a 1-0 lead in the series.
For the Express at the plate, sophomore first-base player
Angelica Uribe-Perez went 2-for-4 with a double. Aviles and freshman right fielder
Amandy Rodriguez each went 2-for-3 with two runs scored. Vuorinen produced a single. Oliviery-Baker crossed home plate.
In the circle for the Express, Sanchez struck out four batters and pitched a complete game but took the loss. For the Knights, rookie pitcher Sophia Chevian earned a complete-game victory and struck out six batters in the process.
In Game 2, Monroe had to retire after three innings of play which clinched the Northeast District Championship for the Knights. CCRI had a 13-4 lead before the game was stopped.
The Monroe College – Bronx softball team will return to the field in 2025.
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).
