NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. – The Monroe University – Bronx softball team earned its first victory of the season on Saturday afternoon, defeating Bucks County Community College in Game 1 of a twin bill by a score of 17-8 at Flowers Park. The Centurions stuck back to win Game 2, 16-10.

In the opening contest, the Express (1-11) trailed 1-0 heading to the home half of the first. However, the Blue and Gold scored four runs in the frame, without the benefit of a hit, to jump out in front. The highlights of the inning were bases-loaded walks by Jayda Delgado and Melissa Martinez which awarded them each an RBI.

In the top of the second, Bucks County (2-5) got two of those runs back. The last at-bat of the inning was an RBI single up the middle off the bat of Samantha Raub. A second runner tried to score on the play, but Nevaeh Feliciano was able to pick the ball up in center and throw home. Rossel Hercules caught it at the plate and tagged the runner out to keep the score 4-3 in favor of the Express.

In the home half of the second, Tiara Desanto and Karla Recio Rodriguez each produced a two-run single for the Express to spark an eight-run inning to inflate the home team's cushion to 12-3. Kimora Thompson also picked up a run batted in with a bases-loaded walk during the stanza.

Bucks County did not go down quietly as the visitors put up four runs in the top of the third to narrow Monroe's lead to 12-7. The key plays during the Centurions' productive frame were an RBI triple by Maya McGory and a two-run inside-the-park home run courtesy of Allison Micklo. 

Brianny Estepan answered for the Express in the next frame as she swung and drilled the ball to right and it landed on the grass. The ball bounced over the right fielder's head and rolled all the way to the fence. Estepan rounded the bases for an inside-the-park home run to extend Monroe's lead to 13-7. The Blue and Gold added two more runs before the end of the frame to go up by eight. 

Estepan, who started the opening game, continued to go strong as she retired the opposing lineup in order during the top of the fourth.

In the home half of the fourth, Feliciano stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded. She worked a walk to pick up an RBI which began a two-run stanza for Monroe. The Express took a 17-7 lead into the next inning. 

Bucks County scored a run in the visiting half of the fifth and had runners on second and third, two outs. Estepan got the opposing batter to fly out to left to clinch the Express' first win of the season.

For Monroe, Estepan earned the complete-game victory, striking out six batters in five innings pitched. With her inside-the-park homer and two runs scored, she made an impact for the Express in the circle and at the plate.

Recio Rodriguez went 2-for-3 to help Monroe, stealing two bases and scoring two runs in the process. Delgado drew three walks and scored twice. Desanto swiped three bases, scored a pair of runs, and took four pitches out of the zone in the same at-bat on two occasions. Thompson crossed home plate twice. Hercules scored three times, stole a pair of bases, and earned two walks. Feliciano scored a duo of runs, stole just as many bases, and earned a pair of walks. 

In Game 2, the Express trailed 2-1 heading to the bottom of the second. With runners on first and second, one out, Desanto stepped up to the plate and laced a double to right, scoring Heather Torres from second and Thompson from first to give Monroe a 3-2 lead. Desanto advanced to third on a wild pitch and ended up scoring on an RBI infield single off the bat of Michelle Cortes Molina to extend the Express' benefit to 4-2. 

Bucks County tied it up in the top of the third thanks to a two-run inside-the-park home run by Envy Franklin.

In the bottom of the third, Monroe had a runner on first and two outs. Feliciano took an 0-1 pitch and smacked it to left for a double which scored Delgado to break a 4-4 tie and give the Blue and Gold the one-run edge.

After the Centurions tied it up, Desanto stepped up in the bottom of the fourth by launching an inside-the-park homer to left which allowed Monroe to regain the advantage at 6-5.

The tide changed in the top of the fifth as Bucks County broke out for five runs to snatch a 10-6 benefit in the blink of an eye. 

The Express got two of those runs back in the bottom frame, capped by an RBI single off the bat of Thompson, to cut the deficit in half.

Recio Rodriguez, in relief, got the opposing lineup to retire in order in the top of the sixth to keep the Express' deficit at 10-8. She helped her cause in the bottom frame by producing an RBI single to score Desanto to pull Monroe to within one. Recio Rodriguez stole second and ended up at third thanks to a throwing error by the catcher. She tagged up and scored on a sacrifice fly to right off the bat of Hercules to even the game at 10 runs apiece.

The Centurions set themselves up in the top of the seventh with runners on first and second, nobody out. Cameron Cellasio drilled a double to right and ended up going to third on the throw. Both runners scored, with the second run crossing home plate due to a throwing error. Cellasio was credited with one RBI on the play as Bucks County took a 12-10 lead. The visiting team put up four more runs in the frame to take a commanding 16-10 hold.

Monroe – Bronx went down in order in the bottom of the seventh as the Blue and Gold settled for the split.

Desanto went 3-for-3 for Monroe, including two extra-base hits, while driving in three runs and scoring just as many times. Recio Rodriguez went 2-for-3 and stole two bases. Estepan hit two singles. Feliciano went 2-for-4, while Torres scored a pair of runs. Thompson went 2-for-3. 

After taking the defeat in Game 1 inside the circle, Micklo bounced back in the second contest by striking out six batters in seven innings pitched to earn the complete-game victory for Bucks County. Recio Rodriguez took the loss for the Express.

Monroe – Bronx will open Region 15 play on Wednesday afternoon with a doubleheader against Suffolk County Community College. First pitch at Flowers Park is set for 3 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).