ORANGEBURG, N.Y. – The Monroe University – Bronx baseball team fell short in a thrilling high-scoring game against Dominican University N.Y. JV, 19-16, at Veterans Memorial Park on Friday afternoon.
History was made for the Express (21-9) as second-year star
Pablo Aquino drilled two triples to reach 100 career hits. His milestone hit occurred in the top of the seventh, as Aquino scorched a triple to left which scored
Derek Lebron. Not only did that extend the Express' lead to 12-10, but it marked Aquino's 100
th career hit.
Aquino finished the day 2-for-4 with three runs batted in, four runs scored, two walks, and a stolen base.
Monroe scored five runs in the top of the first to take a commanding lead before Dominican JV (0-1) got a chance to bat.
Devyn Rolle kicked off the scoring with a two-run homer to left, his third round-tripper of the year. Later in the inning,
David Echavarria drove in two runs with a single. In the next at-bat,
Joshua Osorio scored from second on a fielder's choice hit by
Elijah Andino which padded the Blue and Gold's lead to 5-0.
Colin Delaney Jr. started the game on the mound for the Express and held Dominican's lineup scoreless during the first two innings.
The Chargers' bats broke out in the bottom of the third, scoring seven runs to catapult the home team to a 7-5 edge.
Monroe answered in the top of the fourth. Aquino drove in two runs with his first triple of the afternoon to tie it up at seven. He eventually scored on a wild pitch to allow Monroe to regain the lead at 8-7. Later in the frame,
Adrian Nunez notched an RBI double to extend Monroe's benefit to two runs (9-7).
The Chargers tacked on three runs in the bottom frame to jump out to a 10-9 advantage.
Monroe tied it up at 10 in the top of the fifth, thanks a steal of home by Andino, as
Abraham Joaquin Taveras stole second at the same time. Later in the top of the fifth, Nunez drilled a run-scoring single to give the Express an 11-10 edge.
After Aquino's 100
th career hit (a two-run triple) gave the Blue and Gold a 12-10 lead, he once again scored on a wild pitch to extend his team's surplus to three runs.
Dominican JV had a productive seventh inning, scoring six runs to put Monroe in a 16-13 hole.
The Express got a run back in the top of the eighth thanks to an RBI ground out off the bat of Taveras which scored
Juan Diaz from third.
In the top of the ninth, Osorio produced an RBI single to narrow Monroe's deficit to 16-15. Later in the inning,
Jeisser Morales hit a sacrifice fly to right which scored
Samuel Hernandez and knotted up the game at 16 runs apiece.
Dominican JV put two runners on base with nobody out in the bottom of the ninth. Ryan Perez stepped up to the plate and drilled a three-run home to left to clinch a wild walk-off win for the Chargers.
During the afternoon, Monroe's lineup produced 17 hits, nine walks, and six stolen bases.
Rolle went 2-for-3, worked three walks, and scored twice. Nunez went 3-for-6, while
Anthony Sanchez singled and scored two runs. Osorio produced two hits. Diaz tripled and singled. Taveras went 2-for-5, while Lebron doubled, scored twice, and worked a pair of walks.
On the mound for Monroe,
Yaxiel Morales De Jesús took the loss. Christian Adorno earned the win for the Chargers.
Monroe – Bronx will travel to Long Island on Sunday for a Region 15 doubleheader against Suffolk County Community College. First pitch of Game 1 at Suffolk County Community College Field is set for 1 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
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