BRENTWOOD, N.Y. – The second-seeded Monroe College – Bronx softball team earned a triumphant victory over third-seeded Dutchess Community College in the single-elimination game of the Region 15 Postseason, 21-2, at Brentwood Softball Field on Saturday afternoon. Thanks to the victory, Monroe – Bronx earned a berth in the Region 15 Championship Series against top-seeded Suffolk County Community College, with Game 1 of the best-of-three series taking place later in the day. The Sharks earned the opening-game victory over the Express, 7-0, to take a 1-0 lead in the regional championship round.
 
Game 2 between Monroe – Bronx (12-27) and Suffolk County (10-7) will take place on Sunday, at Brentwood Softball Field, beginning at 11:00 a.m. Game Three, if necessary, will occur 30 minutes after the conclusion of Game 2. 
 
In the first-round contest against the Falcons (1-20), the Express came storming out of the gate with eight runs in the opening inning to take a commanding 8-0 benefit. The highlights of the Express' productive stanza were a three-run triple off the bat of freshman center fielder Ciara Harriott, a run-scoring double off the bat of freshman shortstop Brendalie Oliviery-Baker, and an RBI single each by sophomore first-base student-athlete Hilda Sanchez and rookie utility player Sonia Rosa. 
 
In the home half of the second inning, sophomore second-base player Ciara Aviles hit a hard grounder to third and beat out the throw at first for the infield single. Sanchez was on third but came home after the throw to first was completed to cap off a two-run frame and pad Monroe's lead to 10-0.
 
The Blue and Gold added three more runs in the bottom of the third, thanks to an RBI single by freshman catcher Brianna Talley and a two-run single through the left side by rookie third-base student-athlete Lauren Vuorinen, to extend Monroe – Bronx's advantage to 13-0. 
 
The Express had a huge inning in the fourth, scoring eight runs to extend their hold to 21-0. The big blow of the frame came off the bat of freshman right fielder Amandy Rodriguez as she drove in two runs with a triple. Other highlights of Monroe's big inning included a two-run single by Vuorinen, and an RBI single each by Rodriguez and Rosa. 
 
Dutchess got on the board with two runs in the top of the fifth, but it was not enough as the Express punched their ticket to the Region 15 Championship Series with a 21-2 victory.
 
Sophomore pitcher Angelica Uribe-Perez earned the complete-game victory in the circle for Monroe as she gave just one earned run and struck out four batters in five innings pitched.
 
At the plate for the Express, Vuorinen went a perfect 4-for-4 with four runs batted in and three runs scored. Oliviery-Baker went 3-for-3 with three runs scored, a walk, and a stolen base. Harriott scored four times, walked twice, and stole three bags. Uribe-Perez walked twice and came around to score just as many times. Sanchez produced a trio of RBIs and scored three times. Rosa scored twice. Aviles went 2-for-4, including a double, and scored a pair of runs. Rodriguez finished with four runs batted in and came around to score. Freshman left fielder Herleen Castillo scored a run of her own. 
 
The Express' lineup was completely shut down in the opening game of the best-of-three Region 15 Championship Series against Suffolk County. Sophomore pitcher Laci Edwards pitched a no-hitter for the Sharks, as she struck out four batters and gave up just two walks in seven innings to earn the complete-game shutout victory. Those walks by the Express were drawn by Rosa and Talley.
 
Suffolk slowly built its lead throughout the game with a run each in the second, third, and fourth innings. Then, the Sharks scored a pair of runs each in the fifth and sixth frames on their way to winning the opening game and taking a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three regional championship series. 
 
In the circle for the Express, Sanchez gave up just three earned runs and struck out four hitters in five innings pitched but took the loss.
 
For updates regarding Monroe – Bronx competing in the Region 15 Championship Series, check out MonroeExpress.com as well as our social media channels. 

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).