MONROE - The race for the Badger South Conference title became a little more jumbled as Milton sophomore Jessie Duoss pitched a three-hit shutout to hand the Cheesemakers a 1-0 loss Friday at Twining Park.
It was the Cheesemakers' second straight loss.
Monroe (10-8, 5-2 Badger South) now faces a pivotal game if the they want to stay in contention to repeat as Badger South champions. Monroe remains in the hunt to repeat as conference champions, but if it comes to fruition the Cheesemakers may wind up as co-champions with Fort Atkinson who is 7-2 in conference.
"It's a must-win game if we want to stay in it and I think we can," Monroe senior Meghan Roberts said of Saturday's game with Stoughton.
On Friday, in a pitcher's duel, Roberts was stellar on the mound as she gave up just one run on three hits. The only run she gave up came when Chandler Richards lined an RBI double to left in the second inning.
"I just wanted to get us back in to hit as quick as I could so we would have a chance to come back," Roberts said. "I felt confident because we were playing great defense."
The Cheesemakers had a couple of scoring opportunities, but came up empty. Monroe junior Brandi Trewartha doubled leading off the second, but was thrown out trying to stretch the hit into a triple.
The Cheesemakers had a golden scoring opportunity in the fifth as two Red Hawks' errors set the stage. Duoss then struck out Gwen Sutter and induced Jessica Beckman to groundout to kill the threat.
"You would like to think when you get two on with less than one out, you can score," Monroe coach Dale Buvid said. "It came down to timely hits and bunt execution. We didn't need many (hits). We just needed one. We are not going to get a lot of hits off a pitcher like that and when you get them you have to come through. It seems like when we hit the ball hard it's right at somebody."
Buvid commended Roberts on her pitching and ability to keep the Cheesemakers within striking distance.
"Meghan was outstanding," he said. "She pitched better than she did yesterday. Her rise ball was better."
Buvid knows there is no margin for error since Milton improved to 11-3, 7-3 and is just one game behind the Cheesemakers and Blackhawks in the loss column.
"They are all must (wins)," Buvid said. "You can't lose again."
It was the Cheesemakers' second straight loss.
Monroe (10-8, 5-2 Badger South) now faces a pivotal game if the they want to stay in contention to repeat as Badger South champions. Monroe remains in the hunt to repeat as conference champions, but if it comes to fruition the Cheesemakers may wind up as co-champions with Fort Atkinson who is 7-2 in conference.
"It's a must-win game if we want to stay in it and I think we can," Monroe senior Meghan Roberts said of Saturday's game with Stoughton.
On Friday, in a pitcher's duel, Roberts was stellar on the mound as she gave up just one run on three hits. The only run she gave up came when Chandler Richards lined an RBI double to left in the second inning.
"I just wanted to get us back in to hit as quick as I could so we would have a chance to come back," Roberts said. "I felt confident because we were playing great defense."
The Cheesemakers had a couple of scoring opportunities, but came up empty. Monroe junior Brandi Trewartha doubled leading off the second, but was thrown out trying to stretch the hit into a triple.
The Cheesemakers had a golden scoring opportunity in the fifth as two Red Hawks' errors set the stage. Duoss then struck out Gwen Sutter and induced Jessica Beckman to groundout to kill the threat.
"You would like to think when you get two on with less than one out, you can score," Monroe coach Dale Buvid said. "It came down to timely hits and bunt execution. We didn't need many (hits). We just needed one. We are not going to get a lot of hits off a pitcher like that and when you get them you have to come through. It seems like when we hit the ball hard it's right at somebody."
Buvid commended Roberts on her pitching and ability to keep the Cheesemakers within striking distance.
"Meghan was outstanding," he said. "She pitched better than she did yesterday. Her rise ball was better."
Buvid knows there is no margin for error since Milton improved to 11-3, 7-3 and is just one game behind the Cheesemakers and Blackhawks in the loss column.
"They are all must (wins)," Buvid said. "You can't lose again."
