MONROE - With the wind blowing and chilly temperatures, the Monroe baseball team's offense, for the first time this season, didn't deliver in a 9-0 loss to Evansville Monday.
Monroe (4-4, 1-2 Badger South) entered the game averaging 8.5 runs per game.
Three Evansville pitchers stymied the Cheesemakers combining on a three-hit shutout. Evansville's Colby Nevel pitched four one-hit innings to get the win. He struck out three and walked one. Monroe junior Garrett Gogin went 2-for-3 and junior Trevor Singer had a pinch-hit single in the seventh inning. The Cheesemakers had just four runners reach second base.
"The weather didn't matter," Gogin said. "We didn't show up and they did. That is what counts in the end."
Evansville (3-6) pounded out 13 hits off Monroe senior pitcher Lucas Neuenschwander. Evansville's Brandon Robinson and Chase Katzenmeyer were each 3-for-5. Evansville's Ben Haegele went 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored and teammate Sam Urquhart was 2-for-4 with two RBI.
Monroe coach Dustin Huffman didn't use the weather as an excuse after the game.
"You can't talk about the weather," Huffman said. "They (Evansville) hit the ball just fine in this weather. Overall, our bats were pretty poor. It's like our approach changed and because it was windy they started swinging harder."
The Cheesemakers committed three errors and a couple of uncharacteristic hesitant breakdowns in the field.
"We played poorly in just about every facet of the game," Huffman said.
Haegele doubled in the second to set up a scoring opportunity. Evansville's Zac Wille then came through with a RBI sacrifice fly to give the Blue Devils a 1-0 lead.
The defensive breakdowns for the Cheesemakers hit in the third. Robinson hit a roller down the third base line that appeared like it could roll foul. Monroe senior third baseman Chase Hellenbrand picked up the slow roller and Robinson reached on an infield single. Then, Katzenmeyer hit a chopper to Hellenbrand. Looking to cut down the lead runner, Hellenbrand pumped a throw toward home plate and then threw to first base. However, Katzenmeyer beat the throw and a run scored to give the Blue Devils a 2-0 lead.
The big blow came when the Blue Devils batted around the order in a five-run fifth. Neuenschwander walked the Blue Devils' No. 9 hitter, Mark Trawicki for the second time. Katzenmeyer singled and Ben Veenstra's single glanced off Monroe shortstop Desmond Ford's glove to load the bases. Haegele then ripped a two-run single to left to give the Blue Devils a 4-0 lead. A dropped fly ball in left field allowed two unearned runs to score and the Blue Devils extended their lead to 7-0.
"We are a senior-dominated team," Huffman said. "We were hesitating. We have to know where to go with the baseball. Although we only had three errors, we can't play defense like that and expect to win."
Neuenschwander pitched a complete game and gave up five earned runs on 13 hits. He walked three and didn't record a strikeout.
"Luke pitches well to contact," Huffman said. "We just need to make more plays. Luke battled for us. He's a senior and he gets it. That's Luke. He always battles. With a guy pitching to contact we have to do our job of hitting and putting the ball in play or it will be tough to come back."
The Cheesemakers won't have to think about the loss to Evansville for long. It's a quick turnaround as Monroe will host Sauk Prairie in a non-conference game today.
Gogin is focused on not allowing the struggles hitting linger as a team.
"We know we can hit the ball," Gogin said. "We just didn't tonight. Hopefully, we can come out and get the 'W' (against Sauk Prairie). Nothing matters if we play like we did tonight."
Monroe (4-4, 1-2 Badger South) entered the game averaging 8.5 runs per game.
Three Evansville pitchers stymied the Cheesemakers combining on a three-hit shutout. Evansville's Colby Nevel pitched four one-hit innings to get the win. He struck out three and walked one. Monroe junior Garrett Gogin went 2-for-3 and junior Trevor Singer had a pinch-hit single in the seventh inning. The Cheesemakers had just four runners reach second base.
"The weather didn't matter," Gogin said. "We didn't show up and they did. That is what counts in the end."
Evansville (3-6) pounded out 13 hits off Monroe senior pitcher Lucas Neuenschwander. Evansville's Brandon Robinson and Chase Katzenmeyer were each 3-for-5. Evansville's Ben Haegele went 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored and teammate Sam Urquhart was 2-for-4 with two RBI.
Monroe coach Dustin Huffman didn't use the weather as an excuse after the game.
"You can't talk about the weather," Huffman said. "They (Evansville) hit the ball just fine in this weather. Overall, our bats were pretty poor. It's like our approach changed and because it was windy they started swinging harder."
The Cheesemakers committed three errors and a couple of uncharacteristic hesitant breakdowns in the field.
"We played poorly in just about every facet of the game," Huffman said.
Haegele doubled in the second to set up a scoring opportunity. Evansville's Zac Wille then came through with a RBI sacrifice fly to give the Blue Devils a 1-0 lead.
The defensive breakdowns for the Cheesemakers hit in the third. Robinson hit a roller down the third base line that appeared like it could roll foul. Monroe senior third baseman Chase Hellenbrand picked up the slow roller and Robinson reached on an infield single. Then, Katzenmeyer hit a chopper to Hellenbrand. Looking to cut down the lead runner, Hellenbrand pumped a throw toward home plate and then threw to first base. However, Katzenmeyer beat the throw and a run scored to give the Blue Devils a 2-0 lead.
The big blow came when the Blue Devils batted around the order in a five-run fifth. Neuenschwander walked the Blue Devils' No. 9 hitter, Mark Trawicki for the second time. Katzenmeyer singled and Ben Veenstra's single glanced off Monroe shortstop Desmond Ford's glove to load the bases. Haegele then ripped a two-run single to left to give the Blue Devils a 4-0 lead. A dropped fly ball in left field allowed two unearned runs to score and the Blue Devils extended their lead to 7-0.
"We are a senior-dominated team," Huffman said. "We were hesitating. We have to know where to go with the baseball. Although we only had three errors, we can't play defense like that and expect to win."
Neuenschwander pitched a complete game and gave up five earned runs on 13 hits. He walked three and didn't record a strikeout.
"Luke pitches well to contact," Huffman said. "We just need to make more plays. Luke battled for us. He's a senior and he gets it. That's Luke. He always battles. With a guy pitching to contact we have to do our job of hitting and putting the ball in play or it will be tough to come back."
The Cheesemakers won't have to think about the loss to Evansville for long. It's a quick turnaround as Monroe will host Sauk Prairie in a non-conference game today.
Gogin is focused on not allowing the struggles hitting linger as a team.
"We know we can hit the ball," Gogin said. "We just didn't tonight. Hopefully, we can come out and get the 'W' (against Sauk Prairie). Nothing matters if we play like we did tonight."
