MONROE - Junior Kaya Teasdale has seen this script before: the Monroe softball team struggles hitting with runners in scoring position and then explodes for a comeback win.
Teasdale did her part in the latest comeback as Monroe rallied from a three-run deficit to beat Oregon 9-3 in the season opener Tuesday at Twining Park. Teasdale went 2-for-4 with two RBIs to lead the Cheesemakers to the victory.
She sparked a nine-run sixth inning when she crushed a leadoff triple to center.
"Relieving," Teasdale said of the triple that jump-started the sixth. "I was really glad that got everyone's hopes up and got our bats going. A lot of times during our summer games, we would do this and get a lot of late hits. It's nice we can do this late in games. Our parents don't like it because it's so suspenseful."
The Cheesemakers had left nine runners on base and left the bases loaded twice in the third and fifth innings without scoring before the breakout in the sixth. The Cheesemakers stranded 11 on base, but it all came together in the sixth.
Monroe junior Cassidy Pivonka reached on an error and Teasdale scored to cut the Panthers' lead to 3-1. Monroe junior Natalie Dillon, who went 3-for-4, singled and junior Brooke Adams laid down a bunt and reached on an error. Oregon pitcher Lacy Fluckinger walked Kari Jordan and then walked in a run by walking Kylie Ambrose to tie the game at 3. Monroe junior Hannah Vetterli then delivered a two-run single to left to give the Cheesemakers a 6-3 lead. Teasdale then gave the Cheesemakers some insurance, lining a two-run single.
Did the Cheesemakers make any adjustments hitting in the sixth?
"I feel like we were ready to win," Teasdale said. "We believed. We deserved to win. Everyone got their heads up."
Oregon (0-2) was plagued by seven errors. The Panthers had a difficult time fielding bunts with four of their errors coming on bunts.
"That (bunting and running) is Natalie's strength," Monroe coach Dale Buvid said. "Natalie and Brooke Adams our are table-setters. We plan to do some short game with Natalie, Brooke and (Lexi) Hilliard. Natalie is a lefty and she's lights-out running. Once you see they (Oregon) are having problems you are going back to the well."
Buvid credited Teasdale for proving the spark in the sixth-inning turnaround.
"A lot of times when you get that extra base hit those are momentum rallying things," Buvid said. "Hats off to Kaya. She plays with a lot of energy, hustle and effort."
The Cheesemakers had golden scoring opportunities early on and had their leadoff hitter on in four of the six innings. In the first, Dillon bunted for a single and Adams reached on an error after a bunt. Adams was thrown out at second base and Dillon running home was tagged out with a rare 3-4-2 double play.
Monroe sophomore Lexi Hilliard singled to lead off the third and Dillon bunted for a single. Adams bunted and reached on an error to load the bases. With the bases loaded and no outs, Fluckinger wiggled out of the jam. She got Monroe senior Kari Jordan to pop out to second and Ambrose grounded out. She then got sophomore Carly Upmann to pop out to her on the mound to end the threat.
"In the first inning, the coaches ran us out of the inning," Buvid said of sending runners after a wild throw that turned into a double play. "We had opportunities galore. She (Fluckinger) kept the ball down and in and the umpire had a low strike zone. Our clutch hitters and RBI hitters didn't get it done for us. We will get more out of our 3, 4, 5 hitters. We have all the faith in them. They just didn't get it done today."
Dillon reached on an error leading off the fifth and Adams singled to center. Ambrose beat out an infield single. With the bases loaded and one out, Upmann popped out to second and Vetterli grounded out to second.
Dillon picked up the win pitching a complete game. She gave up three runs on two hits. She struck out eight and walked an uncharacteristic eight batters. Dillon carried a no-hitter into the fifth. The Panthers broke the no-hit bid when Quincey Newton singled leading off the fifth. With two outs, the Panthers scored three runs as Dillon battled some control problems. Dillon walked four straight hitters and walked in two runs as the Panthers took a 3-0 lead.
"It takes a while to find it at the beginning of the season," Buvid said of Dillon pitching. "She's a better pitcher. She just has to get a couple of games under her belt. We can't have that (eight walks) and expect to beat good teams. She battled through it. We grinded it out."
Teasdale did her part in the latest comeback as Monroe rallied from a three-run deficit to beat Oregon 9-3 in the season opener Tuesday at Twining Park. Teasdale went 2-for-4 with two RBIs to lead the Cheesemakers to the victory.
She sparked a nine-run sixth inning when she crushed a leadoff triple to center.
"Relieving," Teasdale said of the triple that jump-started the sixth. "I was really glad that got everyone's hopes up and got our bats going. A lot of times during our summer games, we would do this and get a lot of late hits. It's nice we can do this late in games. Our parents don't like it because it's so suspenseful."
The Cheesemakers had left nine runners on base and left the bases loaded twice in the third and fifth innings without scoring before the breakout in the sixth. The Cheesemakers stranded 11 on base, but it all came together in the sixth.
Monroe junior Cassidy Pivonka reached on an error and Teasdale scored to cut the Panthers' lead to 3-1. Monroe junior Natalie Dillon, who went 3-for-4, singled and junior Brooke Adams laid down a bunt and reached on an error. Oregon pitcher Lacy Fluckinger walked Kari Jordan and then walked in a run by walking Kylie Ambrose to tie the game at 3. Monroe junior Hannah Vetterli then delivered a two-run single to left to give the Cheesemakers a 6-3 lead. Teasdale then gave the Cheesemakers some insurance, lining a two-run single.
Did the Cheesemakers make any adjustments hitting in the sixth?
"I feel like we were ready to win," Teasdale said. "We believed. We deserved to win. Everyone got their heads up."
Oregon (0-2) was plagued by seven errors. The Panthers had a difficult time fielding bunts with four of their errors coming on bunts.
"That (bunting and running) is Natalie's strength," Monroe coach Dale Buvid said. "Natalie and Brooke Adams our are table-setters. We plan to do some short game with Natalie, Brooke and (Lexi) Hilliard. Natalie is a lefty and she's lights-out running. Once you see they (Oregon) are having problems you are going back to the well."
Buvid credited Teasdale for proving the spark in the sixth-inning turnaround.
"A lot of times when you get that extra base hit those are momentum rallying things," Buvid said. "Hats off to Kaya. She plays with a lot of energy, hustle and effort."
The Cheesemakers had golden scoring opportunities early on and had their leadoff hitter on in four of the six innings. In the first, Dillon bunted for a single and Adams reached on an error after a bunt. Adams was thrown out at second base and Dillon running home was tagged out with a rare 3-4-2 double play.
Monroe sophomore Lexi Hilliard singled to lead off the third and Dillon bunted for a single. Adams bunted and reached on an error to load the bases. With the bases loaded and no outs, Fluckinger wiggled out of the jam. She got Monroe senior Kari Jordan to pop out to second and Ambrose grounded out. She then got sophomore Carly Upmann to pop out to her on the mound to end the threat.
"In the first inning, the coaches ran us out of the inning," Buvid said of sending runners after a wild throw that turned into a double play. "We had opportunities galore. She (Fluckinger) kept the ball down and in and the umpire had a low strike zone. Our clutch hitters and RBI hitters didn't get it done for us. We will get more out of our 3, 4, 5 hitters. We have all the faith in them. They just didn't get it done today."
Dillon reached on an error leading off the fifth and Adams singled to center. Ambrose beat out an infield single. With the bases loaded and one out, Upmann popped out to second and Vetterli grounded out to second.
Dillon picked up the win pitching a complete game. She gave up three runs on two hits. She struck out eight and walked an uncharacteristic eight batters. Dillon carried a no-hitter into the fifth. The Panthers broke the no-hit bid when Quincey Newton singled leading off the fifth. With two outs, the Panthers scored three runs as Dillon battled some control problems. Dillon walked four straight hitters and walked in two runs as the Panthers took a 3-0 lead.
"It takes a while to find it at the beginning of the season," Buvid said of Dillon pitching. "She's a better pitcher. She just has to get a couple of games under her belt. We can't have that (eight walks) and expect to beat good teams. She battled through it. We grinded it out."
