UNIONDALE, N.Y. – The Monroe University – Bronx baseball team split its Region 15 doubleheader with Nassau Community College on Friday afternoon at Nassau Baseball Field. The Express lost the first game, 10-6, but bounced back to win the second end of the twin bill, 6-2.
Thanks to the win in the second contest, the Express clinch the No. 1 seed in the upcoming Region 15 Postseason that is scheduled to begin on Thursday afternoon. Time and the opponent for Monroe are to be announced. The entire regional playoffs will be played at Middle Country Park in Selden, N.Y.
In Game 1 at Nassau, the Express got off to a good start as an RBI double by
Adrian Nunez and then a run-scoring single off the bat of
Elijah Andino catapulted Monroe to a 2-0 lead. The Lions answered with two runs of their own in the bottom frame.
Abraham Joaquin Taveras led off the top of the second with a double and then came around to score later in the frame on an infield error, to allow the Blue and Gold to regain the lead. After
Derek Lebron reached third, he ended up scoring on a balk to extend the Express' advantage to 4-2.
Once again, Nassau countered with two runs in the bottom stanza. This time, Daniel Reynolds and Chris Lonergan produced back-to-back RBI doubles to even the game.
Nassau took its first lead of the contest in the bottom of the fourth as the home team scored three runs. The key play was when the Lions already had a 5-4 edge and then an error in the outfield allowed Nassau to score two more runs to put Monroe in a 7-4 disadvantage.
The Express inched closer in the top of the sixth as a sacrifice fly by
Devyn Rolle narrowed the opposition's surplus to 7-5.
The Lions blew the game open with three runs in the bottom of the sixth thanks to two hit by pitches and then a walk, all with the bases loaded, to inflate the home team's cushion to 10-5.
Monroe added a run in the top of the sixth, but it was not enough as the Lions secured the opening-game victory, 10-6.
Andino had a big outing for the Express as he went 3-for-4, including a triple. Taveras walked twice and scored two runs.
On the mound for Monroe,
Frangel Rodriguez started the game and took the loss.
For Nassau, Chris Stumpf earned the win out of the bullpen as he struck out three batters and gave up just one run in three innings pitched.
In Game 2, The Lions had a 1-0 lead until the top of the third. That's when Rolle drilled the ball deep to left which dropped down for a hit. He ran around the bases for an inside-the-park home run which tied the game at one. It marked Rolle's fourth round-tripper of the season.
Nassau answered in the bottom of the third as an RBI single by Aidan Quinn gave the Lions a 2-1 edge.
The innings flew by and the score was still 2-1 in favor of the home team in the top of the sixth. With a runner on second and one out,
Juan Carlos Salcedo drilled a single to right which scored Rolle to tie the game at two. Two batters later,
Juan Diaz stepped up to the plate with two outs and lined a single to right which scored Salcedo from third to give Monroe a 3-2 edge.
The Express looked to gain more breathing room as they were set up with runners on first and third, one out, in the top of the seventh.
Robert Herrera ended up scoring on a balk to give Monroe a 4-2 benefit. After that, Rolle was hit by a pitch and then stole second. Nunez singled on a fly ball to right center which scored both Aquino and Rolle to increase the Express' surplus to 6-2.
In the bottom of the seventh,
Luis Green entered the game for Monroe out of the bullpen. With runners at the corners, two outs, Green got Quinn to hit a fly ball to center. Aquino made the catch to clinch the Region 15 Regular Season Championship for Monroe.
"Feels good to get the No. 1 seed," Express Head Coach
Bryan Diaz said. "The guys deserve it, but we still have a lot of work to do."
Yevian Delgado got the win on the mound for the Express. He went six innings and struck out six batters. He gave up just two runs
At the plate for the Express, Rolle homered, doubled, and scored three runs.
David Echavarria went 2-for-3, while Nunez went 2-for-4 with two runs batted in.
For updates regarding the upcoming Region 15 Postseason, 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 (
Monroe Express), Twitter/X (
@MonroeExpress), Instagram (
@MonroeExpress), and Threads (
@MonroeExpress).
