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Monroe-Express Softball Defeats Top Seed Suffolk Community College To Capture The Second Region XV Championship In Program History
Posted: May 06, 2024

Monroe-Express Softball Defeats Top Seed Suffolk Community College To Capture The Second Region XV Championship In Program History

(Photo Courtesy of Monroe-Bronx Athletics)

Selden, New York - The Monroe-Express softball team grabbed their second Region XV Championship in program history, taking both games on Sunday afternoon, 18-8, and a 10-9 thriller in extra innings to upend defending Champion Suffolk County Community College on a rainy Sunday afternoon in the 2024 Region XV Softball Championship.

"Amazing," Express Head Softball Coach Lauren Farina said. "The biggest thing is that we trusted our defense, and we trusted our offense. They did exactly what they needed to. They played as a team. I'm so unbelievably proud of them!"

Monroe – Bronx (14-27) will now host nationally ranked No. 6 Community College of Rhode Island in the District Championship Series, which is best two out of three, on Saturday, May 11th, and Sunday, May 12th, at Flowers Park.

Farina was honored after the game as the Region 15 Coach of the Year in her first season at the helm of the Express program. 2024 Region XV Gold Glove Receipant Lauren Vuorinen was named Region 15 Championship MVP after hitting .500 (4-for-8) in the final two games of the tournament, including three hits, a double, and four RBIs in the clinching 10-9 victory in the third game. Angelica Uribe-Perez, Rosa, freshman catcher Brianna Talley, second-year pitcher Hilda Sanchez, and sophomore second-base player Ciara Aviles were all named to the 2024 Region XV All-Tournament Team for their efforts.

The Express's bats got rolling after coming into Sunday's contest off of a 7-0 shutout loss on Saturday in game one. Monroe-Bronx was able to stay alive with an offensive explosion for a dominant 18-8 victory in the second game to stay alive and force a rubber game. 

Uribe-Perez went a perfect 5-for-5 with three runs batted in, two runs scored, and a stolen base. Talley scored three runs, along with two steals and two RBIs, while Vuorinen scored a pair of runs and had a hit. Rosa drilled two doubles, came around to score three times, earned two walks, and stole a base. Aviles crossed home plate twice, had two RBIs, walked, and stole a base. 

After surrendering the first two runs, Suffolk countered with two at the bottom of the third to knot it all up at two. The Express took over from there, scoring five runs to jump out to a 7-2 hold, and after the Sharks scored three of the following four runs with a three in the bottom of the fifth to get as close as 8-5, Monroe-Bronx responded with a six-run sixth inning, highlighted by a two-run double to left by Rosa, a run-scoring base hit by Aviles, and a two-run double courtesy of freshman right fielder Amandy Rodriguez, to pad Monroe's benefit to 14-5 and roll to an 18-8 victory forcing a third game.

The Express wasted no time in the third and deciding game, striking right away with two runs in the top of the first, thanks to an RBI single each by Talley and Vuorinen to put Monroe up 2-0. After the Sharks tied it up at two with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning, the Express responded at the top of the second,  scoring four runs to take a commanding 6-2 lead. It started when Uribe-Perez approached the plate with the bases loaded and one out. She earned a walk to send Harriott home from third to allow Monroe to retake the lead at 3-2. Vuorinen stepped into the batter's box and cleared the bases with a double to center to extend the Express lead to 6-2.

Sophomore pitcher Laci Edwards, who stymied Monroe-Bronx with a no-hitter in game one to give the Sharks a 1-0 lead in the series yesterday, stepped in the circle to lock it down, retiring the final two batters to keep it at 6-2. Edwards pitched back-to-back scoreless innings, helping the Sharks inch closer in the bottom of the fourth with a two-RBI single by sophomore center fielder Kaylin McDonald, helping them get within two, 6-4. 

Edwards retired the side in the top of the sixth for another scoreless frame and to keep the Monroe-Bronx lead 6-4. Suffolk County broke through with two runs to tie it up at six in the bottom of the inning.

After the seventh, the game remained tied at six, so extra innings were needed to determine the Region 15 Champions.

 The Express had a runner on third and two outs in the eighth. They finally broke through against Edwards as Rosa laced a single through the left side to score Uribe-Perez and give Monroe a 7-6 lead. After that, Rosa advanced to second on a wild pitch. Sanchez took advantage at the plate by drilling a single to left, which scored Rosa, giving Monroe an important insurance run and an 8-6 benefit. Sanchez eventually came around to score on a muffed throw to pad the Express' advantage to 9-6, and that was the tally heading into the bottom of the eighth.

However, Suffolk County once again did not go down without a fight as freshman right fielder Kate Smith produced an RBI single, and then sophomore shortstop Brooke Bove lined a double to left-center field, which scored two more runs to tie the game at nine. The Sharks were on the verge of winning as the game-clinching run was in scoring position and just one out. Fortunately for the Express, Uribe-Perez remained calm in the circle and got the next two batters to fly out to right field and ground out to third base, respectively, to allow Monroe to stay alive in the game and keep the contest tied at nine runs apiece.

In the top of the ninth, Oliviery-Baker was hit by a pitch and then advanced to third on a bunt single to the hot corner by Talley, setting the Express up with runners on the corners and nobody out. Uribe-Perez came up next and launched the ball deep to left. The catch was made, but Oliviery-Baker tagged up and scored from third to give Monroe again the lead, at 10-9, thanks to the RBI sacrifice fly by Uribe-Perez. 

Suffolk County threatened to have the game-tying run on third and the game-winning run at second with just one out. Once again, Uribe-Perez was at her best under pressure as she got the next batter to pop up to short. Rosa made the catch to make it two outs. It all came down to the final hitter. The Express were one out away from hanging on, while the Sharks were one base hit away from at least tying and most likely winning the championship. Uribe-Perez threw the pitch, and the batter popped it up to the middle of the infield dirt. Rosa came towards second base and made the catch to clinch the Region 15 Championship for the Express. 

Uribe-Perez pitched a complete game, going nine innings and striking out five batters, to earn the Express the win.

For Suffolk County, Edwards went 7.2 innings out of the bullpen, gave up just three earned runs, and struck out three batters but took the hard-fought loss. 

For Monroe at the plate, Vuorinen went 3-for-4, drove in four runs, and earned two walks. Rosa went 2-for-4 with a run scored, two walks, and a stolen base. Uribe-Perez singled, scored twice, and drew a pair of walks. Talley produced two singles, crossed home plate two times, earned a base on balls, and stole a bag.