NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. – The Monroe University – Bronx baseball team earned a convincing victory in its home opener over NJCAA Division II Rockland Community College, 10-0, at Flowers Park Baseball Field on Thursday afternoon.

Frangel Rodriguez led the way for the Express (3-6) as he earned his second consecutive complete-game victory. This time, he threw six shutout innings, gave up just three hits with zero walks, and struck out six batters. In his last 13 innings pitched, Rodriguez has given up just one run and fanned 12 batters without surrendering a walk.

In Thursday's victory over Rockland (1-8), the Express scored two runs in the opening inning, highlighted by an RBI single off the bat of Joshua Osorio which gave the Blue and Gold a 2-0 benefit. 

Monroe padded its lead in the bottom of the second thanks to an RBI single courtesy of Pablo Aquino which scored Ramses Gonzalez to inflate the home team's lead to 3-0. 

The Express added two runs in the home half of the third.

In the fourth inning, Monroe's bats kept pouring it on. After Aquino scored his second run of the day to give his team a 6-0 advantage, Anthony Sanchez stepped up to the plate with Robert Herrera on second and one out. Sanchez ripped the ball to the gap in right-center field. Herrera scored from second and Sanchez slid into third for an RBI triple, padding the Express' advantage to 7-0.

In the top of the fifth, Jacob Fermin set Rockland up with a leadoff double. However, Rodriguez got the next batter to hit into a 5-3-5 double play to erase the runner. Rodriguez then closed the inning by getting the next opposing hitter to fly out to center. 

Fast forward to the bottom of the sixth. Sanchez delivered a one-out double to left. Elijah Andino came up and belted a single to the same spot which scored Sanchez to make it 8-0. After the Express scored their ninth run on a throwing error at the plate, Devyn Rolle came up. He slapped a single through the left side to score Osorio for Monroe's 10^th run which clinched the 10-0 mercy-rule win for the Express.

"Thanks to God for giving us this win," Herrera said. "Frangel did a good job pitching today. It was a very good team win."

For the Express, Aquino went 3-for-4 with a double. Herrera singled, stole two bases, and scored twice. Osorio produced two hits and drove in just as many runs. Sanchez scored a pair of runs, walked, and stole a base. Andino crossed home plate twice and swiped a base. Gonzalez and Derek Lebron each went 2-for-3 with the former lining a double.

For Rockland, Robert Berkley took the loss. He gave up just one earned run and struck out two batters in three innings pitched.

Monroe – Bronx will travel to Edison, N.J. on Saturday for a twin bill against Middlesex College. First pitch of the doubleheader at Middlesex Stadium is set for noon.

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).