NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. – The Monroe University – Bronx softball team earned two thrilling come-from-behind victories over Raritan Valley Community College, 8-7 and 19-15, at Flowers Park on Saturday afternoon.

In the opening game, the Express (6-13) fell behind 6-1 in the fourth, and then trailed 7-3 heading into the seventh and final inning. Monroe – Bronx rallied to pull to within one. Later in the seventh, Genesis Matias was on second with two outs and the Express were trailing 7-6. Amandy Rodriguez hit the ball and it rolled under the glove and legs of the Lions' first-base player and into right field, scoring Matias to tie the game. Then, Jaliyah Rosario stepped up to the plate and singled, which advanced Rodriguez to third. 

It was now all up to Alicia Negrillo as she came to the plate with runners on the corners, tie game, and two outs. She slapped the ball deep in the hole between first and second. The first-base player fielded the ball but Negrillo's speed allowed her to reach the uncovered base and send home Rodriguez, the game-winning run, to complete the thrilling come-from-behind victory for the Express in walk-off fashion.

"I was very nervous at the plate, but we made it work," Negrillo said. "We came back and won the game!"

Melissa Martinez earned the win for the Express by pitching 5.1 innings in relief, giving up just one earned run, and striking out three batters. 

In addition to her walk-off hit, Negrillo also had an RBI single in the bottom of the fourth that pushed Monroe's rally along. Matias chipped in during the Express' big seventh inning with a two-run single and then came around to score.  Rosario hit two singles and drew two walks. Ciara Harriott went 2-for-4 with a pair of stolen bases and a run scored. Brendalie Oliviery-Baker doubled, scored a run, and stole a base. Sonia Rosa drove in two runs, one of which was via a single, and crossed home plate. Judaiah Gourdine doubled and scored twice. Lauren Vuorinen hit an RBI single and came around to score during the bottom of the fourth. 

In Game 2, an RBI single by both Gourdine and Rodriguez contributed towards a three-run first inning which gave the Express a 3-0 lead. However, Raritan Valley (2-12) scored six runs in the third to jump out to a 6-3 benefit. 

Monroe answered with two runs in the bottom of the third to pull to within one. Each team plated four runs in the fourth which made the score 10-9 in favor of Raritan Valley.

It looked bleak for the Express as the Lions built their lead up to 14-9 after five and a half innings of play. 

Once again, the Express answered with their backs against the wall, this time by scoring 10 runs in the home half of the sixth to propel themselves to a 19-14 benefit. Rosario kicked off the scoring with a two-run single. Negrillo continued her heroics by driving in Vuorinen from third. Rosario then scored on a wild pitch to pull the Blue and Gold to within one. After Harriott singled and then stole two bases, Oliviery-Baker lined a base hit to send Harriott home to tie the game at 14. She ended up scoring on a go-ahead RBI single by Rosa to allow the Express to regain the lead at 15-14. Monroe scored four more runs in the frame, highlighted by an RBI single off the bat of Vuorinen, to extend their lead to 19-14.

Raritan Valley added a run in the top of the seventh thanks to an inside-the-park home run by Jayla McNeil, but it was not enough as the Express clinched their second victory of the day by a final score of 19-15.

Gourdine got the win in relief for the Express as she struck out five batters in three innings pitched. At the plate, she produced two hits, drove in a run, stole a base, and scored twice. 

Also, for the Express, Rodriguez went 3-for-3 with three runs scored, an RBI, a walk, and a stolen base. Harriott went 2-for-4, stole three bases, walked, and came around to score twice. Oliviery-Baker went 2-for-3 with a walk, a stolen base, and scored three times. Rosa walked and scored a pair of runs. Matias tripled, singled, picked up an RBI, and crossed home plate four times. Vuorinen scored two runs, drove in just as many, stole two bags, and drew a walk. Rosario walked and stole a base. 

For the Lions, Peyton Chie went 3-for-5, including a two-run inside-the-park round tripper, drove in three runs total, and scored three times. 

Monroe – Bronx will have a rematch with Raritan Valley, this time at the Lions' home field, on Thursday afternoon. The doubleheader at RVCC Softball Field will begin at 3:00 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.