MIDDLETOWN, N.Y. – The Monroe University – Bronx baseball team split its doubleheader against NJCAA Division II Orange County Community College, at Colt Baseball Field, on Sunday afternoon. The Colts (8-9) won the first game, 12-1, but the Express (9-11) bounced back to win the second, 12-4.
"We started off slow in Game 1, but our bats came along in the second game and our pitching staff showed up when we needed them the most," Express Head Coach
Bryan Diaz said. "Overall, a great team win in the second game."
In the opening contest, Orange County scored six runs across the first two innings to take a 6-0 lead and then added six more in the fourth.
Monroe's lone run came via an RBI fielder's choice by
Christopher Marlin that scored
Pablo Aquino in the top of the fifth. It was not enough as the Colts clinched its second win of the season over the Express.
Brian Saldana earned his third victory of the year for Orange County as he struck out five batters in five innings pitched to earn the complete-game win.
At the plate for the Express, Aquino,
Yan Ortiz Torres, Marlin,
Edwin Minaya Jr., and
Robert Herrera each singled.
Giovanny Flores and
Abraham Joaquin Taveras each worked a walk and stole a base.
Game 2 was a different story for the Express as they scored three runs in the top of the first, thanks to an RBI base hit by Herrera and a two-run single courtesy of Flores, to give the Blue and Gold an early advantage.
The Colts got one run back in the home half of the first.
In the top of the third, an RBI by Flores and then a sacrifice fly courtesy of
Adrian Nunez that scored Minaya Jr. from third padded Monroe's benefit to 5-1.
It got dicey for the Express in the bottom of the third as a two-run double courtesy of Saldana highlighted a three-run inning which pulled Orange County to within one.
In the top of the fourth, the Express bounced back and earned more breathing room as a sacrifice fly by Minaya Jr. scored Aquino to make it 6-4.
One inning later, Monroe built its lead to three thanks to an RBI double off the bat of
Anthony Sanchez.
The Express broke the game open in the top of the seventh with five runs, highlighted by an RBI single courtesy of Joaquin Taveras and a bases-loaded walk by Herrera, to inflate Monroe's cushion to 12-4.
Luis Roman came out of the bullpen for Monroe - Bronx in the bottom of the seventh and retired all three batters he faced to secure the victory for the Express.
Sael Flete earned his first collegiate victory on the mound for Monroe as he struck out seven batters in five innings pitched.
Leonardo Martinez tossed a scoreless inning of relief for the Blue and Gold.
At the plate, Marlin went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and a walk. Ortiz Torres went 2-for-4 with an RBI and stole a base. Minaya Jr. had two hits in three at-bats and scored a duo of runs. Aquino singled, scored twice, picked up a stolen base, and worked a walk. Herrera worked three walks, stole two bases, and scored twice. Flores earned a base on balls, stole a bag, and crossed home plate. Nunez singled and came around to score twice. Joaquin Taveras scored a run as well.
Monroe – Bronx will battle Nassau Community College in a Region 15 game on Tuesday afternoon. First pitch at Mitchel Athletic Complex is set for 4:00 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.
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