Bronx baseball wins 2026 CUNY Title
2
Queensborough QCC 4-16
12
Winner Bronx C.C. BRONXCC 10-14
Queensborough QCC
4-16
2
Final
12
Bronx C.C. BRONXCC
10-14
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 R H E
Queensborough QCC 0 0 0 0 2 2 2 3
Bronx C.C. BRONXCC 2 3 5 0 2 12 10 0

W: Santos, Juan (6-2) L: Justin Douglas (0-0)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Bronx captures 2026 CUNY championship with 12-2 drubbing of Queensborough; Espinoza named MVP, Santos strikes out 10

The Broncos' baseball team came into the 2026 CUNY Community College championship game struggling to find its footing, but Bronx turned things around at the perfect time, defeating the Tigers earlier today by a score of 12-2 (five innings) in the title game. The contest took place at Ohio Field in the Bronx. With the victory, the Broncos improved to 10-14 on the season, while the Tigers dipped to 4-16.
 
It was Bronx's 13th CUNY title under Head Coach Adolfo DeJesus, who is currently wrapping up his 40th season at the helm (there was no season in 2021).

After Broncos starter Juan Santos retired the Tigers in order in the top of the first, Bronx wasted no time jumping ahead in the bottom half of the frame. After Adrian Pena and Hector Jimenez both reached base, Lenox Rondon ripped a ground-rule double to bring in the game's first run. Moments later, Jason Espinoza added a sacrifice fly, and the Broncos quickly led 2–0.
 
That early pressure continued into the second inning. Bronx strung together quality at-bats, highlighted by Hector Jimenez's two-RBI double and another RBI knock from Espinoza. By the end of the frame, the Broncos' lead had ballooned to 5–0.
 
The decisive blow came in the third inning, when Bronx erupted for five runs. Justin Perez Salcedo sparked the rally with an RBI triple. Defensive miscues by Queensborough compounded the damage, as multiple runs scored on errors. Lenox Rondon added an RBI single, and additional unearned runs crossed the plate to push the Broncos' commanding edge to 10-0. By this point, Bronx had full control — combining timely hitting with aggressive baserunning and capitalizing on the Tigers' defensive struggles.

Queensborough finally broke through in the fifth inning to keep its hopes alive and momentarily avoid the mercy rule trigger. With three runners aboard, Ruggiero delivered a two-RBI double to right-center, cutting the Tigers' deficit to 10–2. However, the rally was short-lived and ultimately too little, too late.

Any hope of momentum shifting was erased in the bottom half of the fifth as the Broncos wrapped up the victory to secure the CUNY title. Veteran Luis Torres drove in both Luis Villaman and Espinoza, with a game-winning two-RBI single, sending the Broncos bench and the fans in attendance into a celebratory frenzy.
 
On the hill, Santos (6-2) earned his team-leading sixth victory, twisting five innings and allowing two earned runs on two hits while walking four batters, balking once, and striking out 10. He faced just two batters passed the minimum for the game.

Bronx's offense was relentless, scoring in four different innings and generating production throughout the lineup.
 
Espinoza was named the game's Most Valuable Player, as he registered an RBI double, a single, and a sacrifice fly. Rondon continued his stellar season at the dish, registering a pair of hits, including an RBI double and RBI single. Jimenez added a two-run double, with Salcedo notching an RBI triple. Torres' two-run single sealed the victory for Bronx.
 
Ruggiero was the lone run-producer at the dish for the Tigers, as his two-RBI single with two outs in the top of the fifth drove home two runs and extended the game.
 
Justin Douglas took the loss for the Tigers, hurling two innings and allowing five runs (four earned) on four hits while walking four (one intentionally) and striking out two. Jayden Jimenez and Lenny Cruz combined to hurl the last 2.2 innings, allowing seven runs (three earned).
 
Now with a CUNY championship under their belts for 2026, Bronx will look to continue its postseason success on Thursday afternoon, as the team gets set to participate in the double-elimination NJCAA Region XV Tournament. The No. 4 seeded Broncos will take on the No. 1 seeded Express of Monroe University-Bronx at Middle Country Park (Selden, NY). Start-time is scheduled for 3:00pm.
Print Friendly Version