MONROE - Evansville scored two unearned runs in the first inning to knock off the Monroe High School baseball team 9-5 Saturday in a nonconference game.
The Cheesemakers made an error on a dropped pickoff throw to second base in the first, and it opened the door for the Blue Devils. Evansville's Aasen Tyler and Sam Urquhart followed with RBI singles for the Blue Devils.
"It's been the story to our season this year, giving up unearned runs in the first inning," Monroe coach Dustin Huffman said. "Giving up three runs in the first makes you feel like you are chasing the rest of the game."
Monroe (5-13) scored two runs in the fifth. Senior Timmy Thoman walked to lead off the fifth. Sophomore Dagon Rach reached on a fielder's choice. Senior Caret Sawdey singled to left, and Caleb Ruegsegger walked to load the bases. Senior Hogan Edwards, who went 2-for-3 with two RBI, delivered a two-run single to left to cut the Blue Devils' lead to 5-2.
"They showed some resiliency to come back," Huffman said. "They did a nice job of battling back."
Monroe senior Brad Ripp pitched 51⁄3 innings and gave up five earned runs on eight hits. He struck out two and walked five. Freshman Jared Dillon tossed 12⁄3 innings in relief and gave up two runs on one hit. Dillon struck out one and walked three.
Senior Jacob Ritschard went 2-for-3 for the Cheesemakers.
Trailing 9-2 in the bottom of the seventh, the Cheesemakers scored three runs.
Edwards led off the seventh with a double. Freshman Nick Bansley came through with an RBI single. Ritschard singled to right. On a wild pitch by the Blue Devils, the Cheesemakers had runners move up to second and third. Sophomore Max Lang walked to load the bases. Thoman reached on an error, and Bansley scored to cut the Blue Devils' lead to 9-4. Rach knocked in the final run on a sacrifice fly.
Monroe will find out its initial postseason foe tonight. Huffman will find out what seed and first-round regional matchup for the Cheesemakers.
"We just have to find a way to come out in the first inning and be ready to play," he said. "Once we score, we have to focus and go 1-2-3 and not give up a run."
The Cheesemakers made an error on a dropped pickoff throw to second base in the first, and it opened the door for the Blue Devils. Evansville's Aasen Tyler and Sam Urquhart followed with RBI singles for the Blue Devils.
"It's been the story to our season this year, giving up unearned runs in the first inning," Monroe coach Dustin Huffman said. "Giving up three runs in the first makes you feel like you are chasing the rest of the game."
Monroe (5-13) scored two runs in the fifth. Senior Timmy Thoman walked to lead off the fifth. Sophomore Dagon Rach reached on a fielder's choice. Senior Caret Sawdey singled to left, and Caleb Ruegsegger walked to load the bases. Senior Hogan Edwards, who went 2-for-3 with two RBI, delivered a two-run single to left to cut the Blue Devils' lead to 5-2.
"They showed some resiliency to come back," Huffman said. "They did a nice job of battling back."
Monroe senior Brad Ripp pitched 51⁄3 innings and gave up five earned runs on eight hits. He struck out two and walked five. Freshman Jared Dillon tossed 12⁄3 innings in relief and gave up two runs on one hit. Dillon struck out one and walked three.
Senior Jacob Ritschard went 2-for-3 for the Cheesemakers.
Trailing 9-2 in the bottom of the seventh, the Cheesemakers scored three runs.
Edwards led off the seventh with a double. Freshman Nick Bansley came through with an RBI single. Ritschard singled to right. On a wild pitch by the Blue Devils, the Cheesemakers had runners move up to second and third. Sophomore Max Lang walked to load the bases. Thoman reached on an error, and Bansley scored to cut the Blue Devils' lead to 9-4. Rach knocked in the final run on a sacrifice fly.
Monroe will find out its initial postseason foe tonight. Huffman will find out what seed and first-round regional matchup for the Cheesemakers.
"We just have to find a way to come out in the first inning and be ready to play," he said. "Once we score, we have to focus and go 1-2-3 and not give up a run."
