NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. – The Monroe College – Bronx baseball team earned a convincing Region 15 victory over Queensborough Community College, 13-3, at Flowers Park Baseball Field on Friday afternoon. The Express bump their Region 15 record to 17-5 (20-19 overall) and have won their last eight regional contests.
 
Sophomore pitcher Didier Hernandez earned his fourth win of the season on the mound for the Express as he pitched all seven innings of the contest, giving up just two earned runs and striking out five batters. 

"Great job by our starting pitcher and great job by our offense for putting the game away," Express Head Baseball Coach Bryan Diaz said.
 
The Tigers (6-16, 6-16 Region 15) struck first in the opening inning as a two-out RBI double off the bat of sophomore first baseman Billy Tavarez gave Queensborough a 1-0 lead. 
 
That advantage held up until the bottom of the second as the Express scored three runs during the frame. Freshman left fielder Edwin Minaya Jr. began the scoring with an RBI single up the middle, which scored second-year first baseman Camilo Rodriguez from second, to tie the game at one. After the Express loaded the bases, with nobody out, sophomore second baseman Adrian Quezada drew an RBI walk to allow classmate Gregory Espinal to score Monroe's second run to give them the lead. Then, with runners on second and third, one out, sophomore center fielder Bryant Quezada slapped an RBI infield single to send rookie catcher Yadiel Santana home from third to extend the Blue and Gold's benefit to 3-1. 
 
After both teams were held scoreless in the third, Monroe – Bronx had a productive fourth inning by scoring three runs to inflate its cushion to 6-1. The highlight of the frame was freshman shortstop Yan Ortiz Torres bunting to the pitcher and sprinting to first. He earned the hit and then Bryant Quezada came around to score on a throwing error.
 
In the bottom of the fifth, a two-run triple off the bat of Adrian Quezada was the key to a four-run frame by Monroe that padded its advantage to 10-2. 
 
After the Express added a run in the bottom of the sixth, Queensborough chipped away with a run in the seventh to shrink Monroe's lead to 11-3.
 
In the home half of the seventh, the Express were set up with runners on second and third, nobody out. Bryant Quezada bunted to first. He was out on the throw, but the sacrifice was successful as Adrian Quezada scored from third and sophomore right fielder Antwon Beverly advanced to third. Ortiz Torres stepped up to the plate and drilled a single down the left-field line which scored Beverly and clinched the Region 15 victory for Monroe – Bronx, 13-3.
 
For the Express at the plate, Ortiz Torres went 3-for-5 with a stolen base and a run scored. Adrian Quezada drilled two triples, scored three times, drove in just as many runs, earned a pair of walks, and stole a bag. Santana scored twice, singled, and walked. Bryant Quezada earned a base on balls. Rodriguez scored two times, singled, and went to first on a walk. Espinal had a base hit, a walk, a stolen base, and scored twice. Minaya Jr. walked, stole a bag, and scored. Freshman third baseman Giovanny Flores picked up a run batted in and stole a base. Beverly tallied an RBI, a base on balls, and a stolen base.
 
Prior to the game, Monroe – Bronx honored 14 of its sophomores for Sophomore Day as the honorees competed in the final regular season home game for the Express. The players honored were Jacob Cotto, Adrian Quezada, Bryant Quezada, Miguel Polanco, Rodriguez, Espinal, Hernandez, Kevin Montes, Beverly, Luis Lopez, Jonathan Rondon, Diego Moran, Orel Castellar, and Hecxiel Perez. 
 
The Express and Tigers will battle each other in a Region 15 doubleheader on Saturday, at Padavan-Preller Field, beginning at 12:00 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).