BELLEROSE, N.Y. – The Monroe University – Bronx baseball team earned its second Region 15 victory in a row over Queensborough Community College, 24-1, at Padavan-Preller Field on Thursday afternoon. 

Leading the way for the Express (2-9, 2-0 Region 15) was Robert Herrera who went 5-for-6 with two doubles, four RBIs, just as many runs scored, and three stolen bases. Edwin Minaya Jr. went 4-for-5 including a two-run home run, while driving in five runs, scoring three times, working a walk, and stealing a base. 

On the mound for Monroe, Anthony Sanchez earned the first win of his collegiate career by striking out nine batters, only giving up one hit, and not surrendering an earned run in five innings pitched. Marcus Rodriguez fanned four Queensborough (0-2, 0-2 Region 15) hitters and only gave up one hit and one walk in two shutout innings pitched out of the bullpen. 

The Tigers opened the scoring with its lone run in the first to take a 1-0 advantage. 

In the top of the second, Monroe – Bronx had a big frame with six runs scored. The highlights in Monroe's productive inning were an RBI single by Minaya Jr. and a run-scoring double each by Pablo Aquino and Yan Ortiz Torres.

Monroe had even more production in the top of the fifth, scoring 10 runs during the stanza. Herrera began the run-scoring blitz with an RBI double. Yadiel Santana continued it with a run-scoring single. Later in the frame, Christopher Marlin drove in two runs on a double. After Herrera produced his second RBI hit of the inning, he was driven in by a two-run homer to center off the bat of Minaya Jr. to cap off the scoring in the fifth and make it 16-1 in favor of Monroe - Bronx.

In the top of the sixth, a two-run single each off the bats of Ortiz Torres, Herrera, and Giovanny Flores padded the Express' cushion to 22-1.

In the road half of the seventh, Minaya concluded Monroe's scoring with a two-run base hit to make it 24-1 in favor of the Blue and Gold. That ended up being the final score. 

For the Express, Flores and Ortiz Torres each went 2-for-3 with three runs batted in and two runs scored. The latter walked twice and stole a base, while the former earned one base on balls. Aquino scored twice, stole just as many bases, and reached with a walk. Marlin came around to score, while Santana walked three times, stole two bases, and crossed home plate just as many times. Juan Diaz scored four runs, drew three walks, and stole a pair of bags. Yavier Velazquez drew three walks, stole two bases, scored just as many times, and drove in a run on a sacrifice fly. Adrian Nunez singled and scored a run, while Jesus Guerrero crossed home plate. 

The Express and Tigers will battle in a doubleheader on Sunday at Flowers Park. The Region 15 twin bill will begin at 12:00 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.