BRONX – The Monroe University – Bronx baseball team came back from two runs down in the eighth inning and hung on to earn a thrilling Region 15 victory over Bronx Community College, 8-7, at Ohio Field on Tuesday afternoon. 

Monroe (22-14, 20-3 Region 15) trailed 4-2 in the eighth inning but rallied to score four runs in the frame, all with two outs, to take the lead. A key sequence was Gregory Cabrera stepping up to the plate with two outs and his team down 4-3. He drilled a single through the right side which scored Elijah Andino from third to tie the game at four. Two batters later, Yan Ortiz Torres came up and drilled a triple to right center which scored a pair of runners to give the Express a 6-4 advantage.

"Great clutch hitting by Gregory Cabrera and Yan (Ortiz) Torres," Express Head Coach Bryan Diaz said.

Robert Herrera and Edwin Minaya Jr. each connected on RBI base hits later in the eighth to inflate the Blue and Gold's benefit to 8-4.

Those insurance runs came in handy because the Broncos (17-16, 15-9 Region 15) scored three runs in the home half of the eighth to pull to within one. 

The Express were held scoreless in the top of the ninth. Marcus Rodriguez entered the mound for Monroe in the bottom of the ninth. After retiring the first two batters, he struck out the final hitter swinging to nail down the save and clinch the key regional win for the Express, as they solidify their second-place position in the Region 15 standings.

"Great job by Marcus Rodriguez to shut the door when the team needed him most," Diaz said.

Early in the game, Herrera and Minaya Jr. also tallied RBI singles apiece in the top of the first which put Monroe up 2-0. Both teams were held scoreless all the way until the bottom of the sixth when the Broncos scored four runs to take a 4-2 advantage. Luis Roman came out of the bullpen for the Express and pitched an inning and a third of shutout baseball to keep the Express within striking distance before their big rally in the top of the eighth that led to the comeback victory for the Blue and Gold. Thanks to his strong effort, Roman was credited with the win.

At the plate for the Express, Herrera and Minaya Jr. each produced three hits, with the former scoring twice and the latter lining a double. Andino produced two base hits, scored a run, and stole a base. Pablo Aquino singled, crossed home plate twice, walked, and swiped a bag.

On the mound for the Express, Myles Pleasants pitched five-plus innings and fanned six hitters. 

For the Broncos, Justin Rosario Cruz went 3-for-5, including a two-run home run and a two-RBI triple. He also scored twice. On the mound, Anshel Novelo started the game and struck out five batters in 7.2 innings pitched.

These two teams will play again on Thursday for a single game at Ohio Field beginning 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.