CARNEYS POINT, N.J. – The Monroe University – Bronx softball team opened the 2025 season with a doubleheader against NJCAA Division II Salem Community College, at Pennsville Little League Field, on Saturday afternoon. The Express (0-2) lost a heartbreaker in Game 1, 7-6 and dropped the second contest by a score of 19-6.
 
The opening game saw multiple lead changes, key players stepping up, and a nail-biting finish that came down to the bottom of the seventh inning. Monroe University started off strong in the first inning, with sophomore Sonia Rosa doubling to left center, bringing home classmate Ciara Harriott. After second-year player Genesis Matias drew a walk, sophomore Lauren Vuorinen followed up with a double of her own to center, scoring Rosa from second to extend Monroe's lead to 2-0.
 
In the bottom of the first, sophomore starting pitcher Judaiah Gourdine retired three batters in a row after giving up a leadoff walk.
 
In the top of second inning, Monroe added another run, as sophomore Brendalie Oliviery-Baker doubled to left, sending Harriott to third and scoring Gourdine. This gave Monroe a 3-0 lead, but Salem (2-0) was quick to respond. In the home half of the second inning, the Mighty Oaks started their rally with freshman Jolee Robinson walking with the bases loaded, which scored classmate Chantelle Haskie to pull the home team to within two. After freshman Jocelyn Melendez scored from third on an RBI hit by pitch courtesy of sophomore Ella Hayes, rookie Valeria Hatterer eventually scored on a wild pitch to tie the game at three.
 
The Mighty Oaks took the lead for the first time in the game in the fourth inning, as sophomore Callie Rozak hit a sacrifice fly to center field, bringing home Jolee Robinson from third. This unearned run pushed the score to 4-3 in favor of Salem. But Monroe wasn't backing down. In the fifth inning, they tied it up once again when freshman Yashira Centeno singled to center field, driving in Matias from second. Freshman Darlene Pena Puente pinch ran for Centeno and then stole second. The throw allowed Vuorinen to score from third, putting Monroe back on top 5-4.
 
Salem responded with a big play in the fifth inning. With runners on second and third, one out, Jolee Robinson doubled to left field, driving in two runners—Hatterer and Melendez—giving Salem a 6-5 lead. Monroe wasn't done yet, though. In the sixth inning, they scored once more when Vuorinen bunted for a single, driving in Harriott from third and tying the game at 6-6. Then, Centeno drew a walk to load the bases with two outs. However, the Express could not get the go-ahead run home.
 
With the game knotted up heading into the bottom of the seventh, it was clear that the next big play could decide the outcome. That moment came from Salem's rookie Lilly Peverelle with a runner on second and one out. She doubled to center field, bringing in Hayes to score the game-winning and allow the Mighty Oaks to earn the win in walk-off fashion.
 
For Monroe, Vuorinen went 2-for-3 and drew a walk. Harriott reached base via a walk four times and hit a single. Matias singled and walked, while Gourdine doubled. Rosa earned three walks.
 
In the circle for Monroe, freshman Melissa Martinez gave up three earned runs in 4.1 innings of relief.
 
Sophomore Jill Robinson got the win out of the bullpen for Salem by pitching 1.2 innings of shutout ball. 
 
The Express got off to a good start in Game 2, as Rosa drove in Harriott from third on a groundout to give Monroe a 1-0 lead. However, the Might Oaks scored 11 runs in the first and then two more in the second to take a commanding lead. 
 
Monroe - Bronx had a strong third inning at the plate, as Harriott launched an inside-the-park home run to right for Monroe's second run. After Oliviery-Baker singled, she stole second. Rosa dove her in with a double to left to shrink the Express's deficit to 10. Rosa stole third and eventually scored on an RBI groundout by Gourdine to get the game to within single digits. 
 
Salem scored three times in the bottom of the third to pad its lead.
 
In the top of the fourth, Monroe loaded the bases. Oliviery-Baker drew a walk to send home Matias. Then, sophomore Amandy Rodriguez scored from third on an RBI fielder's choice courtesy of Rosa.
 
That was all the scoring for Monroe as Salem scored three times in the bottom of the fourth and went on to win in game two. 
 
Jill Robinson earned her second victory of the afternoon in the circle as she pitched a complete game and struck out six batters. Rozak drilled a two-run home run, drove in three runs total, drew three walks, and scored three times. 
 
At the plate for Monroe, Harriott worked two walks, scored two runs, and stole just as many bases. Freshman Ren Reyes had a stolen base of her own. Matias reached base with a single, while freshman Nyabi Lopez walked and stole a base. Rodriguez singled and earned a base on balls. 
 
Monroe – Bronx will play four games against NJCAA Division II Howard Community College, in Ellicott City, Maryland, this weekend. Friday's games will be at 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. Saturday's contests will be at 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. All games will be played at Kiwanis Wallas Park. 
 
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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