GEORGETOWN, Del. – The Monroe University – Bronx baseball team played in a pair of doubleheaders against NJCAA Division II Delaware Technical & CC - Terry over the weekend. On Saturday, the Express fell 11-4 and 12-4. On Sunday, Monroe lost by scores of 19-3 and 18-8. All the games took place at Owens Campus Baseball Field.

In Game 1 on Saturday, the Express trailed 4-0 in the top of the fourth. With a runner on first and nobody out, Christopher Marlin drilled a double to right which scored Yan Ortiz Torres from first. Marlin ended up advancing all the way home on an error to slice the Express' deficit in half at 4-2. 

Delaware Tech. answered in the bottom of the frame with four runs, highlighted by a 3-run homer off the bat of Phillip LoMedico to put Monroe in an 8-2 hole. 

In the top of the fifth, the Express had runners first and second, two outs. Marlin stepped up to the plate and came through once again, this time with a single to right which scored Elijah Andino for the Blue and Gold's third run of the contest. It was not enough as Delaware Tech. went on to win the opening game, 11-4.

For the Express, Marlin went 3-for-4. Nomar Rodriguez singled and scored a run. Ortiz Torres worked two walks, while Robert Herrera earned one base on balls. Adrian Nunez and Yadiel Santana each singled. 

On the mound for Delaware Tech, Anthony Hatch earned the complete-game victory by striking out seven batters and giving up just one earned run in seven innings pitched.
 
In the second game on Saturday, the Express struck first in the top of the first as Pablo Aquino scored from third on a passed ball to give Monroe a 1-0 benefit. 

Marcus Rodriguez started on the mound for Monroe and pitched scoreless first and second frames without giving up a hit to keep the score 1-0 in favor of the Blue and Gold. 

In the top of the third with runners on first and second, two outs, Edwin Minaya Jr. singled to score Ortiz Torres and extend the Express' lead to 2-0. The next batter was Nunez who lined a double to left which scored Marlin and padded Monroe – Bronx's advantage to 3-0. 

Delaware Tech. answered in the bottom of the third with three runs, highlighted by a two-run single off the bat of Griffin Tracy, to even the game at three runs apiece. 

In the top of the fifth, Monroe reclaimed the lead as Aquino scored on an RBI groundout by Marlin to make it 4-3. 

Unfortunately for Monroe, errors and wild pitches played key roles in Delaware Tech. scoring five runs in the bottom of the fifth, putting the Blue and Gold behind by a score of 8-4. In the bottom of the sixth, an RBI double by Graham Buckson sparked the home team to three runs in the frame to pad its cushion to 12-4. That ended up being the final score.

The Express outhit the opposition, 8-6, during the contest. Aquino went 2-for-4, including a triple, and scored twice. Ortiz Torres drilled a double and stole a base. Minaya Jr. and Nunez each went 2-for-3, with the latter lacing a double. Giovanny Flores reached base with a single. 

On the mound, Eric Braica struck out nine Express batters and gave up just two earned runs in seven innings pitched to earn the complete-game victory. 

In Game 1 on Sunday, Delaware Tech. scored three runs in the opening inning to take the lead for good. The home team scored 12 runs in the bottom of the fourth to break the game open.

In the top of the fifth for Monroe, Juan Diaz hit a three-run inside-the-park home run to left. Anthony Sanchez and Flores were on base when it happened. That was all the offense provided by the Express as Delaware Tech. clinched the win. 

For the Express, Aquino went 2-for-3 and stole a base. Marlin drilled a double, while Nunez reached base with a walk. 

For Delaware Tech, LoMedico went 2-for-2, including his second home run of the weekend, and scored three runs. On the mound, Nathan Donahue struck out two batters in five innings to pick up the complete-game victory.

In Game 2 on Sunday, Monroe opened the scoring in the top of the second when Diaz drew a walk with the bases loaded to give the Blue and Gold a 1-0 lead. Delaware Tech. countered with five runs in the bottom frame to take a four-run advantage. 

In the top of the third, Cruz stepped up to the plate and drilled a solo home run to left field to pull Monroe to within three. However, Delaware Tech. busted the game wide open with six runs in the frame to take a commanding 11-2 hold.

The Express did not go away as they scored six runs in the top of the fourth, highlighted by RBI singles by both Cabrera and Andino, to shrink their deficit to 11-8. It was in vain as Delaware Tech's bats remained lethal as the home team scored two runs in the fourth, three in the fifth, and two more in the sixth to clinch its fourth win of the weekend.

For the Express, Aquino and Abraham Joaquin Taveras each reached base via a double with the latter scoring a run. Herrera and Andino each went 2-for-3 with a run scored with the former stealing a base and earning a base on balls. Diaz drew three walks, picked up an RBI, and crossed home plate. Cruz provided two runs batted in. Guerrero tallied an RBI, and a run scored. Cabrera and Sanchez each scored once.

Xavier Efford got the win out of the bullpen for Delaware Tech. as he struck out three batters in 2.1 shutout innings pitched.

Monroe – Bronx will face off with NJCAA Division II Rockland Community College, at frozen Ropes in Chester, N.Y., on Thursday afternoon. First pitch is at 2:00 p.m.

ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE UNIVERSITY
The athletic program at Monroe University 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 University 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). Catch us on YouTube at www.YouTube.com/MonroeExpress.