MADISON - Sarah Alexander has been no stranger to coming to the plate in big situations in the Monroe softball team's young season.
And the way the senior has handled herself, coach Dale Buvid wouldn't mind seeing plenty of repeat performances.
The designated player ripped a two-run double to right-center field to snap a scoreless tie in the top of the seventh inning and spark the Cheesemakers to a
3-1 victory against Madison Edgewood in Badger South Conference play Friday.
It turned out to be the decisive blow in a game dominated by the starting pitchers - Monroe's Becca Armstrong and Edgewood's Heather Grelle. Both hurlers recorded 12 strikeouts while walking two.
"It was a struggle just to get the ball in play some," Buvid said of his team, which had one hit entering the seventh.
Sophomore Chandra McGuire opened the seventh with bloop single to right and senior Alyssa Montgomery reached on an error.
Alexander was down 0-2 in the count when she laced the game-winner.
"Grelle threw a rise ball that was just not quite as high as the others and Sarah stayed on top of it and crushed it," Buvid said. "She had two feeble grounders in her first two
at-bats. I give Sarah a lot of credit for coming up big for us."
Alexander was in a similar situation in Monroe's season opener in Florida and drilled a ball to deep center that a player from Bellbrook, Ohio, made an excellent play on to rob her and prevent the Cheesemakers from tying the game.
"She's been in that situation quite a few times already," Buvid said. "She's a senior who has hung with the program. She has good power and is a great kid. I couldn't be happier for her to clutch up and get it done."
Monroe (2-2, 2-0 Badger South) added its third run in the seventh on a wild pitch.
The Crusaders (3-2, 1-1) pushed one run across on Armstrong in the bottom of the seventh and Edgewood had a runner on third with two outs when the junior ended the game.
"It was an outstanding game by both pitchers," Buvid said of players who were both second-team all-conference in 2011. "Becca matched (Grelle) strikeout for strikeout."
Monroe will host Monona Grove on Tuesday at 5 p.m.
And the way the senior has handled herself, coach Dale Buvid wouldn't mind seeing plenty of repeat performances.
The designated player ripped a two-run double to right-center field to snap a scoreless tie in the top of the seventh inning and spark the Cheesemakers to a
3-1 victory against Madison Edgewood in Badger South Conference play Friday.
It turned out to be the decisive blow in a game dominated by the starting pitchers - Monroe's Becca Armstrong and Edgewood's Heather Grelle. Both hurlers recorded 12 strikeouts while walking two.
"It was a struggle just to get the ball in play some," Buvid said of his team, which had one hit entering the seventh.
Sophomore Chandra McGuire opened the seventh with bloop single to right and senior Alyssa Montgomery reached on an error.
Alexander was down 0-2 in the count when she laced the game-winner.
"Grelle threw a rise ball that was just not quite as high as the others and Sarah stayed on top of it and crushed it," Buvid said. "She had two feeble grounders in her first two
at-bats. I give Sarah a lot of credit for coming up big for us."
Alexander was in a similar situation in Monroe's season opener in Florida and drilled a ball to deep center that a player from Bellbrook, Ohio, made an excellent play on to rob her and prevent the Cheesemakers from tying the game.
"She's been in that situation quite a few times already," Buvid said. "She's a senior who has hung with the program. She has good power and is a great kid. I couldn't be happier for her to clutch up and get it done."
Monroe (2-2, 2-0 Badger South) added its third run in the seventh on a wild pitch.
The Crusaders (3-2, 1-1) pushed one run across on Armstrong in the bottom of the seventh and Edgewood had a runner on third with two outs when the junior ended the game.
"It was an outstanding game by both pitchers," Buvid said of players who were both second-team all-conference in 2011. "Becca matched (Grelle) strikeout for strikeout."
Monroe will host Monona Grove on Tuesday at 5 p.m.
