HAVERHILL, Mass. – The nationally ranked No. 13 Monroe University – Bronx baseball team dropped the first game of the Northeast District Championship Series to No. 7 Northern Essex Community College, 4-2, at Haverhill Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Express (26-14) trail the best-of-three series, 1-0. Game 2 will be on Sunday, same place, at 11 a.m. If Monroe wins the second game, a third and deciding battle for the right to go to the JUCO World Series will be played 30 minutes after the final out of the second contest.
In Game 1, Monroe got off to a great start as
Devyn Rolle stepped up to the plate with runners on second and third, two outs, in the top of the second. He took a 1-0 pitch and lined the ball down the left field line to drive in both
Elijah Andino and
David Echavarria to give Monroe a 2-0 advantage.
Rolle ended up stranded at second as the Knights (30-7) escaped the jam without giving up more damage.
Adrian Hernandez retired the first two batters in the bottom of the second, but Northern Essex mustered up a two-out rally. The Knights were able to set themselves up with runners on second and third. Brooks Keefe took a 1-1 pitch and singled up the middle, driving in both runners to tie the game at two. Keefe successfully stole second. Joshua Jones hit the ball to second, but a throwing error allowed Keefe to score and give the home team a 3-2 advantage.
In the bottom of the fourth, Northern Essex had runners on first and second, one out. Keefe struck again as he produced an RBI single to extend the Knights' lead to 4-2.
Monroe's bats were shut down the rest of the way as the Blue and Gold could not produce a hit during the final 5 1/3 innings of the contest. Monroe only managed a walk and a hit-by-pitch during that stretch.
The game officially ended when Echavarria struck out looking which clinched the win for Northern Essex and a 1-0 lead in the Northeast District Championship Series.
For the Knights, Jack Kelleher earned the complete-game victory, giving up just five hits and did not allow an earned run. He walked just one batter and fanned nine hitters. He bumps his record to 9-1.
Hernandez started the game and went six innings. He gave up just three earned runs, struck out five batters, allowed seven hits, and walked three hitters. He suffered just his first loss of the year (3-1).
Luis Green pitched two innings out of the bullpen for the Express. He did not allow a run, gave up no hits, surrendered just one walk, and fanned one batter.
At the plate for the Express,
Robert Herrera went 2-for-3 with a walk and three stolen bases.
Anthony Sanchez and
Ramses Gonzalez both singled.
For Northern Essex, Keefe went 3-for-3 with three RBIs.
For updates and results of tomorrow's game(s), 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
www.MonroeExpress.com or follow us on social media: Facebook (
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