HAVERHILL, Mass. – The nationally ranked No. 13 Monroe University – Bronx baseball team's memorable season came to an end on Sunday. After winning a hard-fought Game 2 against nationally ranked No. 7 Northern Essex Community College earlier in the day, 6-2, the Express fell in the rubber game of the Northeast District Championship Series to the Knights, 15-7. Both games took place at Haverhill Stadium.
Northern Essex (30-8) clinches its fifth consecutive district title and automatic bid into the upcoming JUCO World Series, which will take place May 23-28 in Johnson City, Tenn.
It was a memorable season for the Express as they captured the Region 15 Championship, won a game in the District Championship Series for the first time in program history, earned a national ranking of No. 13, and won 27 games (27-15 record).
During the victory in Game 2 over the Knights, the Express got off to a slow start as a two-run single by Kade Masselli in the top of the first put Monroe in a 2-0 hole.
Yevian Delgado settled in on the mound after the top of the first and produced scoreless frame after scoreless frame to keep the Express in it.
Still down 2-0 in the bottom of the fourth,
Anthony Sanchez got the Express off to a great start in the frame by leading it off with a double. Later in the inning, the bases became loaded with one out.
Abraham Joaquin Taveras grounded the ball to third which allowed Sanchez to score from third for Monroe's first run of the game. Taveras earned an RBI on the groundout. The next batter was
Devyn Rolle who lined a 1-0 pitch down the left field line for a two-run double which catapulted Monroe to a 3-2 edge.
Delgado was able to keep Monroe in front with his strong pitching as he tossed scoreless stanzas in the fifth and sixth innings.
In the very beginning of the top of the seventh,
Luis Green came in relief of Delgado. He retired the Knights' lineup without giving up a hit in the frame.
Adrian Nunez led off the bottom of the seventh with a single. Sanchez stepped up to the plate and scorched the ball to left which scored Nunez all the way from first. Sanchez slid into third with an RBI triple, extending Monroe's advantage to 4-2. He ended up scoring on an RBI single through the left side off the bat of pinch-hitter
Derek Lebron to give the Express more breathing room at 5-2. After a ground ball double play made it two outs and the bases empty,
Elijah Andino tripled to center. He then scored on an RBI single by Taveras to pad Monroe's cushion to 6-2.
Green continued his stellar pitching performance, getting through the eighth without giving up a hit. In the top of the ninth, he retired the Knights' lineup in order. That included the game-ending play which was Green getting Brooks Keefe to ground out to third to clinch the victory in Game 2 of the Northeast District Championship Round for the Express and even the series at one game apiece. It was the program's first time ever winning a district championship series game.
Delgado bumped his record to 8-2 for the Express as he went six innings, gave up just two runs, surrendered five hits, walked three batters, and struck out five.
Green earned his first collegiate save as he pitched the final three innings of the contest, did not allow a run or a hit, walked two, and struck out one.
For the Express at the plate, Sanchez went a perfect 3-for-3 with two runs scored and a pair of walks. Taveras went 2-for-4 with a duo of RBIs. Nunez went 2-for-5 with a run scored. Andino,
David Echavarria, and
Joshua Osorio each earned a walk. Andino crossed home plate twice, while Echavarria singled and scored. Herrera reached base with a single.
For Northern Essex, Jack Sarno started the game and took the loss.
In the third and deciding contest of the Northeast District Championship Series, Monroe batted first this time.
In the opening frame, the Express got on the board thanks to an RBI fielder's choice off the bat of Sanchez that scored Herrera from third to give Monroe a 1-0 lead.
In the bottom of the first,
Frangel Rodriguez took the mound and retired the Knights' hitters in order.
With one out in the top of the second, Osorio drew a walk and then Taveras doubled down the left field line to set up runners on second and third. Rolle came up next and singled to left which scored Osorio to increase the Express' benefit to 2-0. Herrera continued the momentum by singling throughout the left side which allowed Taveras to cross home plate and extend Monroe's surplus to 3-0. Herrera stole second to set up the Express with runners on second and third. Nunez came up with two outs. He slapped the ball to left which brought two runners home and extended Monroe's advantage to 5-0.
The Knights chipped away as a two-run triple by Marbel Soriano sliced the Express' lead to 5-2. He ended up scoring on a balk to narrow Northern Essex's deficit to 5-3. Rodriguez recovered and got out of the inning without giving up more damage.
In the home half of the third, Jake Yngber drilled an RBI triple to right center which trimmed the Express' edge to just 5-4. Later in the inning, with the bases loaded, Soriano worked a walk that scored Yngber to even the game at five runs apiece.
Isaul Lara, who entered the game out of the bullpen for the Express earlier in the inning, retired the next two hitters. The final batter he retired in that frame was Joshua Jones who Lara forced to strike out swinging, to escape the bases-loaded jam without giving up more damage and keeping the game tied.
In the top of the fourth,
Pablo Aquino was hit by a pitch and then eventually stole second. Sanchez came up with one out and doubled to left center, which scored Aquino to allow Monroe – Bronx to retake the lead at 6-5. After Echavarria singled to move Sanchez over to third, Andino stepped up to the plate. He hit a long fly ball to right. The catch was made and Sanchez scored from third to complete the sacrifice fly by Andino and extend Monroe's benefit to 7-5.
In the beginning of the bottom of the fourth,
Brylyn Mateo came in relief for the Express. He got himself into a jam as there were runners on first and second, two outs. He got out of it by striking out Kade Masselli swinging to keep Monroe's 7-5 lead intact.
Mateo faced another jam in the bottom of the fifth, this time it was with the bases loaded and two outs. Monroe still up 7-5. Mateo successfully protected that lead again by striking out David Castillo swinging to escape danger.
In the top of the sixth, Sanchez singled with one out. Northern Essex made the call and sent Castillo from shortstop to the mound. The Knights' closer threw a wild pitch to send Sanchez to second. However, he got the next two Express hitters to fly out to get out of the inning without giving up any runs.
The bottom of the sixth was a nightmare for Monroe. Northern Essex loaded the bases with nobody out. Jack Aylward sneaked a single through the left side which scored two runs and tied the game at seven. The next hitter was Soriano who also lined the ball through the left side for a hit. That scored a run to give the Knights the lead at 8-7. Those hits began a nine-run inning which inflated Northern Essex's advantage to 14-7 after six innings of play.
The Express could not get a hit the rest of the way as Castillo pitched three more innings and got Herrera to strike out looking to end the game and clinch the Knights' fifth straight district championship with a 15-7 win.
For the Express, Mateo took the loss.
Jonathan Vasquez had a strong outing out of the bullpen for Monroe as he tossed three innings, gave up only one run (in the seventh), walked just one batter, gave up two hits, and fanned a hitter.
At the plate for the Express, Herrera went 2-for-6 with two runs scored, an RBI, and a stolen base. Rolle went 2-for-4 with a walk, one stolen base, an RBI, and a run scored. Nunez and Sanchez each collected two hits and two RBIs, with the latter drawing a walk and scoring a run. Osorio worked two walks and came around to score once. Taveras reached via a base on balls and scored a run. Andino hit a single.
For Northern Essex, Castillo got the win by striking out four batters, giving up just two walks, and not allowing a run or a hit in 3 2/3 innings pitched. Dom Pefine started the game for the Knights and had a 1.51 ERA coming into the game. The Express' lineup scored seven runs and produced 11 hits during his outing of 5 1/3 innings.
The Monroe University – Bronx baseball team will return to the field for the regular season in February of 2027.
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.
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