EDISON, N.J. – The Monroe University – Bronx baseball team suffered two hard-fought losses to nationally ranked No. 7 Middlesex College, at Middlesex Stadium, on Sunday afternoon. The first game was a heartbreaker at 7-6, while the second contest was a 16-7 score.

In the opening game, Monroe – Bronx (0-9) had a 6-2 advantage heading into the bottom of the seventh and were three defensive outs away from victory. The Colts (15-5) rallied with five runs in the frame, capped off by a walk-off single by Conor Drury.

The Express got off to a good start in the contest with a two-run first inning, highlighted by an RBI double off the bat of Juan Diaz, to take a 2-0 lead. 

Brylyn Mateo started the game on the mound for Monroe and completed the Express' strong first frame by retiring the Colts' lineup without giving up a run or a hit. 

The game remained scoreless until the bottom of the third when Middlesex took advantage of two wild pitches to slice its deficit in half at 2-1. Mateo recovered and got the final out in the third and then worked around a leadoff double in the fourth by retiring three straight hitters to keep a 2-1 lead for Monroe – Bronx.

In the top of the fifth, the Express had runners on first and second with nobody out. Yan Ortiz Torres lined a double to left which scored both Pablo Aquino and Nomar Rodriguez to pad the Blue and Gold's benefit to 4-1. Ortiz Torres then came around to score on an RBI infield single off the bat of Christopher Marlin to inflate the Express' lead to 5-1. After Marlin advanced to second on the throw, the Express appeared to be in great shape with a runner on second and nobody out. However, Monroe could not push across that run and the score remained 5-1 in favor of the Express.

Middlesex scored a run in the bottom of the fifth to pull to within three.

In the top of the seventh, Monroe produced a key insurance run thanks to a sacrifice fly by Marlin that scored Ortiz Torres from third to make it 6-2 in favor of the Blue and Gold.

The Colts lineup broke out in the bottom of the seventh. After pulling to within three, Jhoalvin Ledesma drilled a triple to right to score two runs and shrink Monroe's lead to 6-5 and nobody out. He eventually scored on a passed ball with one out to tie the game at six runs apiece. Middlesex eventually loaded the bases with only one out. That set up Drury for his heroics as he lined a single to right that scored Ryan Acquisto from third and clinch the come-from-behind victory for Middlesex. 

For the Express, Ortiz Torres and Diaz each went 2-for-4 with two doubles with the former scoring three runs and stealing a base. Aquino singles, scored twice, and drew two walks. Robert Herrera reached base with a single. Nomar Rodriguez drew two walks and scored a run, while Yadiel Santana and Giovanny Flores each earned a base on balls.

On the mound, Mateo went six-plus innings for the Express and struck out three batters.

Edgar DeLeon earned the win out of the bullpen for Middlesex.

In the second game, the Colts scored two runs in the opening frame to take a 2-0 advantage. The Express answered with three runs in the top of the second, highlighted by an RBI single off the bat of Flores, to take a 3-2 lead. 

In the bottom of the second, Middlesex plated four runs to jump out to a 6-3. The Colts broke the game open in the third with six runs to take a commanding 12-3 hold. 

Monroe – Bronx did not go down quietly as the Blue and Gold scored five runs in the top of the fourth, thanks to a two-run single by Gregory Cabrera, a bases-loaded walk by Diaz, and a sacrifice fly by Herrera, to narrow its disadvantage to 12-7. 

That score remained until the bottom of the sixth when Middlesex tacked on four insurance runs to pad its lead to nine. The Colts went on to clinch the sweep.

For Monroe, Flores went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and a stolen base. Adrian Nunez singled, stole two bases, and scored a run. Marlin earned a one-base hit, while Cabrera scored a run. Sanchez and Ortiz Torres each scored, with the former stealing two bases and the latter walking twice. Herrera also crossed home plate and provided a single. Diaz stole a bag. Santana reached base with a single.

For Middlesex, Josh Friedman pitched three shutout innings out of the bullpen and fanned two Express hitters.

Monroe – Bronx will open Region 15 play on Tuesday with a game against host-Queensborough Community College. First pitch at Padavan-Preller Field is set for 3:30 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. 
 
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