ROCKVILLE, Md. – The Monroe University – Bronx baseball team dropped both ends of its non-region doubleheader to NJCAA Division II Montgomery College – Rockville, by scores of 17-4 and 12-2, at Montgomery Field on Sunday afternoon. 

The Express (2-6) gave up seven innings in the bottom of the second inning of Game 1 to fall behind, 7-0. The highlights of the frame were a solo home run by Jack Freeman and then a grand slam courtesy of Jay Adams which made it 5-0 in favor of The Raptors (7-6) at the time.

Monroe – Bronx got two of those runs back in the top of the third as a two-run homer courtesy of Pablo Aquino pulled the Express to within five. 

Montgomery broke the game open in the bottom of the fourth with 10 runs in the frame. Freeman struck again with his second homer of the contest during the inning, this time with a three-run shot to left, during the productive stanza. Hayden Hair also homered during the inning.

Joshua Osorio helped Monroe in the top for the fifth by delivering a two-run single to narrow the Blue and Gold's deficit to 13. It was not enough as Montgomery starting pitcher Hudson House struck out the final Express batter of the game to clinch the victory in Game 1 for the Raptors.

For Monroe, Aquino delivered two hits and scored twice. Robert Herrera, Adrian Nunez, and Derek Lebron each singled. Abraham Joaquin Taveras worked a walk and scored. Herrera and Anthony Sanchez each earned a base on balls. Lebron crossed home plate.

On the mound, House went the distance for Montogomery as he struck out six batters in four innings to earn the win. Yevian Delgado took the loss for Monroe. Railyn Uceta pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings out of the bullpen for the Blue and Gold. 

Monroe – Bronx got off to a strong start in Game 2 by scoring two runs in the opening inning, highlighted by an RBI double courtesy of David Echavarria which gave the Blue and Gold a 2-0 benefit. 

The lead was short-lived as Montogomery got the first two runners on base in the home half of the first. Then, Shakir Rodriguez-Muhammad smashed a three-run homer over the left-field wall to put Monroe in a 3-2 hole. That was part of a four-run inning for the Raptors.

Montgomery continued to build its advantage with two runs in the second and six runs in the third, capped by Rodriguez-Muhammad's second three-run homer of the game, which made it 12-2 in favor of the Raptors. That ended up being the final score.

For Monroe – Bronx, Aquino, Devyn Rolle, and Samuel Hernandez each reached base with a single. Aquino and Rolle each stole a base and scored a run. Rolle, Echavarria, and Juan Carlos Salcedo each worked a walk. Juan Diaz swiped a base.

On the mound, Kyan Montano struck out eight Monroe batters to earn the complete-game victory for Montgomery. Brylyn Mateo took the loss for the Express. Luis Green pitched 1 1/3 shutout innings for Monroe out of the bullpen, fanning three hitters and surrendering zero hits. 

The Express will have their home opener on Thursday against NJCAA Division II Rockland Community College. First pitch at Flowers Park is set for 3:30 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, 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).