BRONX – The Monroe University – Bronx baseball team earned two Region 15 victories over local rival Bronx Community College, by scores of 14-3 and 4-1, at Ohio Field on Saturday afternoon. 

The Express sweep the three-game regular season series over the Broncos and start off regional play with a 3-0 record (7-7 overall). Bronx drops to 2-4 overall and 2-3 in the region.

Monroe got off to a slow start in Game 1 as the Blue and Gold trailed 2-0 after a full inning of play. 

In the top of the second, the Express had the bases loaded and two outs. Derek Lebron stepped up to the plate and lined a single to center, scoring two runs and knotting up the game, 2-2. With runners on the corners, Lebron stole second and the throw by the catcher ended up in center field. Abraham Joaquin Taveras scored from third and Lebron ended up advancing an additional base as Monroe jumped out to a 3-2 edge.

After a struggle in the first inning on the mound, Yevian Delgado bounced back for the Express in the second by retiring the three Bronx hitters in order, to help Monroe maintain its one-run lead.

The Express' bats broke out in the top of the third, scoring eight runs in the frame. The highlights of Monroe's productive inning were an RBI double each by Adrian Nunez, Anthony Sanchez, and Lebron, as well as a two-run single off the bat of Pablo Aquino and an RBI single courtesy of Elijah Andino. Andino's productive base hit made it 11-2 in favor of the Express.

Bronx tacked on a run in the bottom of the third.

For Monroe, Juan Carlos Salcedo led off the fourth inning and drilled the ball deep to right and it traveled over the fence for a solo home run which extended the Express' surplus to 12-3.

In the top of the fifth, Aquino also provided a leadoff home run to right which made it 13-3 in favor of the Blue and Gold. Later in the frame, Andino hit a sacrifice fly which scored Robert Herrera from third to increase Monroe's benefit to 11.

In the bottom of the fifth, Brylyn Mateo entered his third frame of relief and held Bronx's bats scoreless to clinch the regional win for Monroe.

Brylyn Mateo earned the win out of the bullpen for the Express as he tossed 2 1/3 shutout innings without giving up a hit, only walking one batter, and striking out four. Delgado started the game, fanning five batters and giving up just one hit in 2 2/3 innings.

At the plate for Monroe, Herrera singled, scored three runs, walked twice, and stole a pair of bases. Joshua Osorio walked twice, scored, and swiped a base. As a team, Monroe's lineup produced 11 hits, six walks, and just as many stolen bases. The Express' pitching staff combined to give up just one hit. 

Adrian Pena suffered the loss for Bronx on the mound. 

Game 2 was more of a pitchers' duel. Both teams were held scoreless in the first inning. 

The Express manufactured a run in the second. Salcedo singled and then stole second base. He ended up scoring on an RBI single off the bat of Sanchez to put Monroe on the board. That was all the production for the top of the second.

In the bottom frame, Frangel Rodriguez worked around a two-out double by striking out the opposing batter for the third out and escape the second with the Express still holding a 1-0 edge.

Each team held each other scoreless in the third and fourth innings. 

In the top of the fifth, Aquino struck again and went deep for his second home run of the doubleheader to extend the Express' lead to 2-0. It marked Aquino's fifth homer of the season. The next hitter was Lebron and he singled, plus stole second. He ended up rounding third and scoring thanks to an RBI triple courtesy of Herrera that padded Monroe's breathing room to 3-0. Herrera scored from third on a sacrifice fly by Salcedo to inflate the Blue and Gold's benefit to 4-0.

Bronx got a run back in the bottom of the fifth via a sacrifice fly but that was all the Express gave up. 

Rodriguez retired the Broncos' lineup in order in the bottom of the sixth. 

In the bottom of the seventh, Sanchez entered the pitcher's mound. With a runner on first and two outs, Sanchez got the opposing hitter to hit a ground ball to shortstop. Herrera threw the ball to Lebron for the out at second to clinch the regional sweep for the Express.

Rodriguez earned his third consecutive win on the mound for Monroe. He went six innings, struck out seven batters, gave up just one run, surrendered five hits, and walked four hitters. Sanchez earned the save for the Express as he struck out a batter in his scoreless frame. 

Anshel Novelo got the loss for Bronx on the mound. He pitched a complete game, striking out six batters, surrendering six hits and four walks, while giving up four runs in seven innings pitched. 

For the Express, they produced six hits and stole five bases. Lebron swiped two bags. Angel Tineo singled for Monroe.

The Express will host Queensborough Community College in a Region 15 game on Tuesday afternoon. First pitch at Roberto Clemente State 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).