BROOKLYN – The Monroe University – Bronx baseball team took both ends of its Region 15 doubleheader over Kingsborough Community College, by scores of 22-6 and 13-1, at Kingsborough Field on Saturday afternoon. 

The Express sweep the four-game over the defending two-time Region 15 Champions, and bump their record to 21-14 overall (19-3 Region 15). Kingsborough (22-12, 15-9 Region 15) is receiving votes in the NJCAA Division III Baseball National Poll.

Yan Ortiz Torres had a big afternoon for the Express as he hit a three-run homer in Game 1 and then launched a grand slam in the second contest.

In Game 1, Edwin Minaya Jr. opened the scoring for the Express with a solo home run to left during the second inning to give the Blue and Gold a 1-0 lead. The Wave answered in the bottom frame as Sam Lee drilled a two-run homer over the left field fence to put his team in front. Kingsborough tacked on three more runs in the third to extend its advantage to 5-1. 

Monroe – Bronx's bats woke up in the top of the fourth with seven runs in the frame, highlighted by an RBI double from Giovanny Flores and a run-scoring single by both Gregory Cabrera and Pablo Aquino, to put the Blue and Gold up 8-5.

The Express scored two runs in the fifth, while the Wave tallied a run in the bottom frame.

The sixth inning was a big one for the Express as they scored 12 times in the stanza. Nine of those runs were scored with two outs. Ortiz Torres drilled a three-run home run during Monroe's big frame. Elijah Andino produced an RBI double and a run-scoring single in the sixth. Robert Herrera and Flores each produced an RBI single in the stanza. Aquino drove in two runs with a base hit and Christopher Marlin tallied an RBI double as part of Monroe's 12-run inning. 

The Express went on to win the opening game, 22-6.

On the mound, Anthony Sanchez earned his fifth win of the season for Monroe by going five innings and striking out four batters. Marcus Rodriguez closed it out in the sixth with a scoreless frame.

Ortiz Torres finished the opening game with five RBIs. Andino went 3-for-4, including two doubles, scored three runs, drove in just as many, and stole three bases. Aquino went 3-for-5 with three runs scored, three RBIs, and a pair of stolen bases. Herrera scored three times and worked two walks. Minaya Jr. went 3-for-3, including his fourth home run of the year. Marlin and Cabrera each scored three times, with the latter drilling two hits and stealing two bases.

In Game 2, Adrian Nunez lined a two-run homer to left in the top of the second to give Monroe a 2-0 lead. That began a six-run frame for the Blue and Gold which included an RBI double by Aquino, a two-run double courtesy of Herrera, and a run-scoring single off the bat of Marlin. 

In the top of the third, a solo shot to center by Andino and then a grand slam to right by Ortiz Torres inflated Monroe's cushion to 11-0. 

The Wave got one run back in the bottom of the third. However, Monroe answered right back in the top of the fourth as an RBI single by David Echavarria capped off a two-run inning to extend the Express' benefit to 13-1. That ended up being the final score.

Brylyn Mateo earned the win on the mound for Monroe - Bronx, advancing his record to 4-1, as he struck out six batters and gave up just one run in five innings pitched during the complete-game effort.

At the plate for the Express, Herrera had a 2-for-4 showing. Jesus Guerrero went a perfect 2-for-2, including a double, and scored a run. Andino went 3-for-4 and scored three times. Echavarria produced three hits in three at-bats, including a double, and scored twice. Abraham Joaquin Taveras singled and drove in a run. Joeliel Cruz walked twice and came around to score just as many times. Aquino and Ortiz Torres each crossed home plate a duo of times.

Monroe – Bronx will open a Region 15 four-game series with Bronx Community College on Tuesday afternoon. First pitch at Ohio Field 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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