MONROE - The Cheesemakers couldn't string together enough hits against Milton's two-time first-team all-conference pitcher Jessi Duoss to mount a complete comeback in a 6-4 loss Tuesday.
Duoss struck out eight Monroe players and only let a small band of hits score any trouble.
"We had some hits and baserunners all day, but you still would like to see some more two-out hits and better execution," said Monroe coach Dale Buvid, who added that Milton's offense came as a bit of a surprise. "If we could have taken four runs against Jessi at the beginning of the game and take our chances with their offense, we would have taken it in a minute."
One of the few Cheesemakers to make solid contact against Duoss was Kelsey Erickson, who finished 1 for 4 with an inside-the-park home run in the bottom of the fifth inning.
"It's really nice to face teams with a really good pitcher. It gives us good competition," Erickson said. "We're better with the faster pitchers, too, which helps our game."
Erickson's hard liner stuck at the base of the right center field fence, and Monroe's senior shortstop was ready to pull up at third base when Buvid signaled her home. A headfirst slide to the inside part of the plate knocked the ball out of the catcher's glove, allowing the run to score.
"I didn't really expect him to send me home, but when he did I realized I had a shot at it. I saw that the catcher was right in front of the base and knew that the only way (to score) was to go around her," Erickson said.
The run brought Monroe back to within one run at 4-3.
"Every time we made a run at them, they had an answer. You have to give them credit on that," Buvid said.
Milton scored two more times in the top of the sixth and Monroe could only plate one more run.
"It's really fun when it's intense," Erickson said. "We had some big hits, but they just weren't all together."
Kristin McArdle had the best day at the plate for the Cheesemakers, finishing 3 for 3 and a home run shy of the cycle. Alyssa Montgomery added a double for Monroe.
"We kept battling and put a lot of people on base ourselves. We were always threatening," Buvid said. "We had the leadoff hitter on the first four innings, but just couldn't scratch out a run until the fourth."
Milton climbed out to an early 4-0 lead thanks to solid hitting and a good eye of the strike zone.
"I keep telling myself 'next pitch.' I just have to shake it off, not look back, throw harder and locate better," said Monroe sophomore pitcher Becca Armstrong, who had 12 strikeouts but allowed 13 hits and four walks. "We didn't think they were going to be as good of a hitting team as they were, but you still have to come out on top of your game."
Duoss did as much damage at the plate as she did on the mound, going 2 for 3 with two walks in the leadoff spot. Chandler Ritschards was 4 for 4 with two doubles as well for the Red Hawks, who had six players reach base twice.
"They were on Becca all night," Buvid said. "In the early innings she got some balls up, but they also hit some balls she located pretty well later in the game. It was their night. They played great."
Monroe (7-4, 4-3 Badger South) now sits a game and a half back of Fort Atkinson (10-3, 5-1). Milton (7-5, 3-3), Stoughton and Madison Edgewood remain fully in the mix for a conference title.
Monroe hosts Fort Atkinson on Thursday.
Duoss struck out eight Monroe players and only let a small band of hits score any trouble.
"We had some hits and baserunners all day, but you still would like to see some more two-out hits and better execution," said Monroe coach Dale Buvid, who added that Milton's offense came as a bit of a surprise. "If we could have taken four runs against Jessi at the beginning of the game and take our chances with their offense, we would have taken it in a minute."
One of the few Cheesemakers to make solid contact against Duoss was Kelsey Erickson, who finished 1 for 4 with an inside-the-park home run in the bottom of the fifth inning.
"It's really nice to face teams with a really good pitcher. It gives us good competition," Erickson said. "We're better with the faster pitchers, too, which helps our game."
Erickson's hard liner stuck at the base of the right center field fence, and Monroe's senior shortstop was ready to pull up at third base when Buvid signaled her home. A headfirst slide to the inside part of the plate knocked the ball out of the catcher's glove, allowing the run to score.
"I didn't really expect him to send me home, but when he did I realized I had a shot at it. I saw that the catcher was right in front of the base and knew that the only way (to score) was to go around her," Erickson said.
The run brought Monroe back to within one run at 4-3.
"Every time we made a run at them, they had an answer. You have to give them credit on that," Buvid said.
Milton scored two more times in the top of the sixth and Monroe could only plate one more run.
"It's really fun when it's intense," Erickson said. "We had some big hits, but they just weren't all together."
Kristin McArdle had the best day at the plate for the Cheesemakers, finishing 3 for 3 and a home run shy of the cycle. Alyssa Montgomery added a double for Monroe.
"We kept battling and put a lot of people on base ourselves. We were always threatening," Buvid said. "We had the leadoff hitter on the first four innings, but just couldn't scratch out a run until the fourth."
Milton climbed out to an early 4-0 lead thanks to solid hitting and a good eye of the strike zone.
"I keep telling myself 'next pitch.' I just have to shake it off, not look back, throw harder and locate better," said Monroe sophomore pitcher Becca Armstrong, who had 12 strikeouts but allowed 13 hits and four walks. "We didn't think they were going to be as good of a hitting team as they were, but you still have to come out on top of your game."
Duoss did as much damage at the plate as she did on the mound, going 2 for 3 with two walks in the leadoff spot. Chandler Ritschards was 4 for 4 with two doubles as well for the Red Hawks, who had six players reach base twice.
"They were on Becca all night," Buvid said. "In the early innings she got some balls up, but they also hit some balls she located pretty well later in the game. It was their night. They played great."
Monroe (7-4, 4-3 Badger South) now sits a game and a half back of Fort Atkinson (10-3, 5-1). Milton (7-5, 3-3), Stoughton and Madison Edgewood remain fully in the mix for a conference title.
Monroe hosts Fort Atkinson on Thursday.
