MONONA - The Monroe baseball team rallied for two runs in the seventh inning, but it wasn't enough in a 3-2 loss to Monona Grove Friday.
Monona Grove led 3-0 entering the seventh. Monroe senior Carter Adkins singled and senior Chase Hellenbrand delivered an RBI double to cut the Silver Eagles' lead to 2-1. Junior teammate Garrett Gogin singled and senior Sean Saxby reached on a fielder's choice to score Hellenbrand. Monroe's Cam Shaw stole second to put the game-tying run in scoring position. Monroe sophomore Hogan Edwards then grounded out to the pitcher to end the threat.
"After Carter led off with a single that is all we needed to get going," Monroe coach Dustin Huffman said. "We felt like we had some momentum. We had the tying run at second base, but we just couldn't get one more big hit."
Monroe senior Desmond Ford went 2-for-3 to lead the Cheesemakers. With the loss, Monroe drops to 7-8, 3-6 Badger South. Monroe senior Lucas Neuenschwander pitched a complete game. He gave up three earned runs on six hits. He struck out two and didn't issue a walk.
"Luke pitched well," Huffman said. "He pitched to contact. In the third inning, he got some pitches up and they scored two runs. He made an adjustment after that. He made some nice pitches and pitched down in the zone."
Monona Grove led 3-0 entering the seventh. Monroe senior Carter Adkins singled and senior Chase Hellenbrand delivered an RBI double to cut the Silver Eagles' lead to 2-1. Junior teammate Garrett Gogin singled and senior Sean Saxby reached on a fielder's choice to score Hellenbrand. Monroe's Cam Shaw stole second to put the game-tying run in scoring position. Monroe sophomore Hogan Edwards then grounded out to the pitcher to end the threat.
"After Carter led off with a single that is all we needed to get going," Monroe coach Dustin Huffman said. "We felt like we had some momentum. We had the tying run at second base, but we just couldn't get one more big hit."
Monroe senior Desmond Ford went 2-for-3 to lead the Cheesemakers. With the loss, Monroe drops to 7-8, 3-6 Badger South. Monroe senior Lucas Neuenschwander pitched a complete game. He gave up three earned runs on six hits. He struck out two and didn't issue a walk.
"Luke pitched well," Huffman said. "He pitched to contact. In the third inning, he got some pitches up and they scored two runs. He made an adjustment after that. He made some nice pitches and pitched down in the zone."
