Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 | Box Score 3 The Bronx Community College baseball team started its 2023 season this past weekend, dropping a pair of games to the College of Southern Maryland by scores of 10-0 and 17-1 on Saturday afternoon, before bouncing back Sunday to defeat St. Mary's College of Maryland 13-9 in an exhibition contest. 

Both of the Broncos' losses to the Hawks were mercy rule-induced, five inning contests. Bronx starter Christopher Messon took the loss for the Broncos in the opener, hurling four innings and allowing seven runs (six earned) on seven hits while issuing five free passes and whiffing four. His counterpart, College of Southern Maryland starter Roy Tayman, pitched a complete game one-hitter, tossing five scoreless frames, allowing just one single while striking out eight in earning the win.

Bronx left fielder Albel Ruan registered the Broncos' one single, and he also drew a walk, reaching base in both of his plate appearances. For the Hawks, they registered 12 hits (11 singles), and four batters recorded at least two hits. 

The College of Southern Maryland scored three runs in the first inning, three in the third, another in the fourth, and three more in the bottom of the fifth to win the contest.

In game two, the Hawks wasted no time catapulting to a commanding lead, plating five first inning runs against Broncos starter Jefferson Santiago. Bronx reliever Alexander Lora didn't fare much better, allowing 10 runs (six earned) on seven hits while walking two in one inning of work. The College of Southern Maryland led 15-0 after two innings of play, never looking back, and winning the game 17-1.

Hawks game two starter Tariq Johnson earned a victory, twirling four frames and allowing just one hit while walking two and striking out four. 

The College of Southern Maryland recorded 11 hits in game two, including three for extra bases. Justin Aponte and Cody Cox each picked up a double and a single while denting home plate twice and driving in four runs. Drew Colaizzi hit a solo homerun in his only plate appearance, and Brady Hill and Jaden Gallagher each picked up a single while driving in three runs. Finally, it was Luis Calvo reaching base three times with a pair of singles and a walk.

The Broncos showed some impressive resiliency in Sunday's game, as Bronx, despite trailing 9-4 after five innings, scored nine consecutive runs over the final four innings to capture a 13-9 win.

Trailing by five runs in the top of the sixth inning, the Broncos loaded the bases, and with one out, Samuel De La Rosa drew a walk, driving in a run and pulling Bronx to within four at 9-5. The next batter, Yoskar Almonte, hit into a fielder's choice and picked up an RBI, though St. Mary's City picked up two outs on the play, the latter via a rundown. After five and a half innings of play, the Seahawks led 9-6.

Later, Almonte was in the middle of another rally for the Broncos, as he registered a two-RBI single in the top of the eighth to bring Bronx to within a run at 9-8. After St. Mary's City (MD) failed to dent home plate in the bottom of the eighth, the Broncos' offense dented home plate five times in the ninth to take a 13-9 edge. 

In that aforementioned ninth inning, the Broncos had runners on the corners with nobody out, when Luis Roman Sanchez' RBI single tied the game at nine. Then, with runners on first and second and still no Broncos retired, Leonardo Francisco would lay down a sacrifice bunt, that would be thrown away by Seahawks third baseman Trevor Smith. That allowed two runs to come around to score, with Francisco advancing to second base. Bronx, which once trailed by five, went up 11-9, and eventually won the game 13-9.

After a rough outing by Broncos starter Alex Messon (nine runs, including eight earned, nine hits, five walks, and four strikeouts), reliever Jordy Garcia was fantastic in earning the victory in relief, tossing 4.1 innings and not allowing a run. He scattered four hits, walking two, and striking out one.

St. Mary's City (Maryland) starter Michael Roeder hurled four innings, allowing four runs (two earned) on five hits while walking one and striking out two. He received a no decision in the contest. After three relievers were able to help the Seahawks maintain the lead through eight innings, David Baggott blew a save opportunity and received the loss on the hill, allowing five runs (three earned) on two hits, two wild pitches, two errors, one walk, and one balk.

For the Broncos, Francisco and Sanchez registered three hits and two RBI apiece. Francisco also doubled, scored four runs, and drew a walk, and Sanchez dented home plate three times while earning a free pass. 

The Broncos will look to carry the momentum of their exhibition game victory next weekend, as Bronx will return to action on Saturday, March 18, traveling to Paramus, NJ to take on Bergen Community College in a doubleheader. Start-times for the games are scheduled for 12:00pm and 3:00pm.