Box Score

The Broncos (20-12) lost the 2018 CUNYAC/MCU Community College baseball title game on Monday evening in heartbreaking fashion, relinquishing a 4-0 lead after seven innings of play to fall to the Tigers of Queensborough Community College (22-12) by a score of 6-4 in 11 innings. The contest took place at MCU Park in Brooklyn, NY.

In a wild/bizarre game that featured 10 earned runs combined between the two squads, Bronx would break through first for two runs in the bottom of the second inning against Tigers ace Ryan Sandberg. With the bases loaded and two men out, Steven Santana would reach on an infield single to shortstop, picking up a RBI in the process. On the same play, Carlos Rivera Ayala would break for home plate and reach it safely, giving the Broncos a 2-0 edge.

The bottom of the fifth saw Bronx tack on another run when Jeffrey Almanzar would score on a wild pitch. Justin Nunez would also attempt to come around and score as Queensborough catcher Louis Zollo could not find the baseball. He finally was able to locate it – and when he did – he would fire the ball to Sandberg who would apply the tag to Nunez for the third out of the inning.

An Emmanuel Frias RBI single in the bottom of the seventh extended the Bronx advantage to 4-0, and things seemed to be looking pretty optimistic for the Broncos in their quest for a CUNYAC title.

In the top of the eighth, the Tigers' Shawn Charles would reach via an error by shortstop Carlos Rivera Ayala. That would be the end of the day for Broncos starter Alexander Pimentel, as he pitched the game of his life on this night. His final line saw him allow just two unearned runs on four hits while walking one and striking out one. He also was able to get the Tigers to bounce into three double plays on the evening.

Aaron Bonilla Suarez would relieve Pimentel, needing six outs to deliver the Broncos to a conference crown. The Tigers would storm back, though, as Michael Mescia would deliver an RBI single. Later in the inning, Jesse Iacovetta would drive in Queensborough's second run on a fielders choice, and finally, it was Chris Astoske capping the Tigers' scoring in the frame with an RBI double. After eight and a half innings of play, Bronx still led 4-3.

After the Broncos failed to score in the bottom of the eighth, the Tigers would come up in the ninth looking to stay alive. John Fitzgerald would start the inning with a single to right field. He would eventually move over to third after consecutive outs. That left it up to Zollo to keep Queensborough alive. Bonilla got Zollo to ground to short, but Ayala's throw to first would sail way over the head of Ariel Irving Lora, allowing Fitzgerald to score the tying run.

In the bottom of the ninth, the Broncos threatened as Raynel Cabrera walked to start the frame, and later – with one out – Almanzar would reach on a fielder's choice, and Cabrera would be safe at second on an error by Astoske. Nunez then struck out swinging, and then Frias followed that by striking out looking.

Not only was the game moving to extra innings, but the evening for Queensborough starter Ryan Sandberg was over, as he tossed nine frames, allowing four unearned runs on three hits while issuing four free passes, hitting three batters, and striking out 15.

After both teams failed to score in the 10^th inning, the Tigers broke through for the winning run(s) in the 11^th, thanks to an RBI single by Fitzgerald and a run-scoring double by Zollo as well. The Broncos did have an opportunity to tie the game in the bottom half, as Nunez came to the plate with a runner on first base and two outs, but he would ultimately hit into a fielder's choice to end the game.

Despite Pimentel's brilliance, it was Bonilla who was tagged with the defeat for the Broncos. The tall right hander was victimized by some misplays in the field, though, as Bonilla allowed no earned runs on four hits while walking a batter and striking out four in relief. Ariel Irving Lora tossed the 11^th inning, allowing just one hit while striking out two.

Offensively for the Broncos, Santana picked up a single, walked once, scored a run, and drove in a run, and Nunez added a base hit and drew a walk. The biggest hits of the day for the Tigers came off the bats of Fitzgerald (two-for-five, two runs scored, RBI) and Zollo (two-for-five, double, single, run scored, RBI), as their hits produced the fifth and sixth Tiger runs in the 11^th.

Bronx' season will continue this week, as the Broncos will play in the Region XV tournament. Opponent, date, and start-time will soon be announced, so keep it posted to BronxBroncos.com for all the latest information regarding the Region XV tournament.