POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – The #3-seed Monroe University – Bronx softball team split the first two games of its Best-Of-Three Region 15 First-Round Series against #2-seed and defending regional champion Dutchess Community College on Tuesday afternoon. The Falcons won the first game, 11-7, but the Express bounced back to win the second end, 10-8. Both games were played at Dutchess Softball Field.
Monroe (7-29) and Dutchess (12-7) will now face each other in the third and deciding game which will be played at Dutchess Softball Field on Wednesday afternoon. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. The winner of the rubber game will advance to the Region 15 Championship Series against top-seeded Suffolk County Community College this weekend.
"So thrilled with how the team stepped up to the challenge today," Express Head Coach
Lauren Farina said. "After attempting a great comeback in Game 1, it was amazing to see our momentum carry into Game 2! We're hoping to ride that momentum all the way through tomorrow's elimination game."
In Game 1, the Falcons scored two runs in the first, four in the second, and one in the third to take a commanding 7-0 advantage heading to the top of the fourth inning.
The Express got back on track in the fourth with two runs to cut the deficit to five, highlighted by an RBI double off the bat of
Kimora Thompson.
The Falcons countered with three runs in the bottom frame to inflate their cushion to 10-2.
Darlene Pena Puente got the Express going in the top of the fifth with a leadoff bunt single. After the next two hitters committed outs,
Karla Recio Rodriguez produced a double to set up runners on second and third.
Nevaeh Feliciano drove both of those runs in with a two-out double to pull Monroe to within six. She ended up scoring on a fielding error at third base to shrink Dutchess' lead to 10-5.
The Falcons extended their vantage to 11-5 in the home half of the sixth.
Monroe compiled two runs in the top of the seventh, capped by Thompson stealing home with one out to pull Monroe to within four.
Ebony Hernandez stole second on that same play. However, Dutchess recorded the final two outs to hang on and earn the win in Game 1, 11-7.
For the Express, Rodriguez went 4-for-4 with three runs scored. Puente went 2-for-3 and crossed home plate. Thompson scored two runs, while
Tiara Desanto drilled a double. Hernandez singled. In the circle,
Kimberly Coste started the game and took the loss.
For Dutchess, Kayla Baez earned the complete-game victory, striking out 10 batters and giving up just three earned runs in the process. At the plate, Gianna Petrillo went 3-for-4 with two doubles, two runs batted in, three stolen bases, and three runs scored. Angelina Nesheiwat also went 3-for-4, hit a double, drove in a run, and scored twice. Danielle Heady went 2-for-4 and compiled two RBIs.
In Game 2, the Express got off to a great start in the top of the first as Thompson crushed a two-run homer to center to put Monroe up 2-0. After the next two hitters reached base, Hernandez produced an RBI single to pad the Blue and Gold's lead to 3-0, still nobody out.
Rossel Hercules was up next and drilled a double to score two runs and increased Monroe's benefit to 5-0 before Dutchess got a chance to bat.
The Falcons escaped the jam without giving up any more runs in the frame.
In the home half of the first,
Melissa Martinez set the tone in the circle for the Express by retiring Dutchess' lineup in order.
The Blue and Gold added two runs in the top of the second due to an error at shortstop to give Monroe a 7-0 advantage.
Michelle Cortes Molina was credited with an RBI on the play.
The Falcons got one run back in the bottom stanza thanks to a solo home run by Nesheiwat.
Rodriguez produced an RBI single for Monroe in the top of the third to allow her team to regain a seven-run cushion.
After Dutchess cut Monroe's lead to six in the bottom of the fourth, Monroe answered in the top of the fifth. Feliciano drove in two runs with a one-out single to give the Express a 10-2 surplus.
The Falcons made the game interesting with three runs in the bottom of the fifth. The highlight of Dutchess' productive inning was a two-run homer by Baez, her sixth round-tripper of the year, to shrink Monroe's lead to 10-5.
Dutchess pulled even closer in the bottom of the sixth as a three-run home run by Amelia Molella sliced the Express' surplus to 10-8.
That same score held up heading to the bottom of the seventh. The Falcons set themselves up with runners on the corners and nobody out. Jeanine Villano came up as the potential winning run. She hit the ball to short. Desanto threw the ball home to Hercules who tagged out the runner sprinting to the plate.
Brianny Estepan struck out the next batter swinging for the second out. After a hit by pitch, the bases became loaded with two outs. Estepan showed great poise and got the next batter to hit the ball to short. Desanto stepped on second for the final out and a victory in the second game for the Express.
Desanto went 3-for-5 in the contest, including a double, and scored three runs. She also stole three bases. Rodriguez went 3-for-5 with two runs scored and a stolen base. Hernandez hit two singles and crossed home plate twice. Hercules also went 3-for-5. Feliciano scored twice, while Martinez and Puente each hit a single.
In the circle for Monroe, Martinez went five innings and got the win. Estepan went two full innings and closed out the game.
Baez pitched her second complete game of the afternoon for Dutchess, but this time took the loss. She fanned nine hitters.
For updates regarding Game 3 of the Region 15 First-Round Series, check out
www.MonroeExpress.com as well as our social media channels.
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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