MONROE — A failure to get timely hits cost the Cheesemakers in a 5-2 loss to Watertown May 11.
The Goslings outhit Monroe 10-5, outwalked Monroe 8-2 and struck out just twice (MHS had zero strikeouts).
“We put ourselves in a position at the end, but we just couldn’t get the big hit. Maybe in the next one we’ll get that big hit,” Monroe coach Joe O’Leksy said.
With two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Monroe still put a pair of runners on second and third via a walk and an error, which brought the tying run to the plate in the form of all-state shortstop Sydney Updike. Updike entered the game batting .526 on the season with four walks and 11 RBIs in six games, but swung at the first pitch she saw and grounded out to gold glove shortstop Lauryn Olson.
“We put ourselves in a position where the pitcher was coming unraveled a bit in the end, even though we had two outs,” Monroe coach Joe O’Leksy said. “We just need to be a little more disciplined at the plate. I have confidence we’ll be hitting the ball very soon.”
Updike finished the game 0-for-4 but put a couple of hard balls into play, including a rocket to center with runners on the corners in the bottom of the third. She reached on an error by Olson in the bottom of the first. It was Olson’s lone blemish of the game, as she turned in multiple highlight-reel snags in the field, including impressive double plays to end the third and fourth innings.
“It was disappointing scoring only two runs. We have a very good hitting team, but we hit some shots they made some good plays on. Their shortstop (Olson) is really good. Their centerfielder (Elise Hicky) is really good,” O’Leksy said. “They made some nice plays, but we have to score more than two runs in a game to have a chance to win and we didn’t tonight, but hopefully on Friday we will.”
Monroe took a 2-0 lead in the third inning when Alyse Maurer and Katie Hayes drove in runs with singles up the middle, scoring Katrina Sathoff and Karis Paulson. Watertown tied it at 2-2 in the next half inning.
In the top of the sixth, the Goslings scored three times against Monroe reliever Sloane Ambrose. The first four hitters of the inning reached on two singles and two walks, driving in a run. A second run scored on a fielder’s choice to Updike, who flipped the ball to Maurer at second, but the pair couldn’t turn the double play. The next batter singled to center, scoring another run.
After a foul out to first baseman Sarah Prien, another ball was hit to Updike, who flipped to third baseman Lizzie Snider for the force, only Snider was deemed by the umpire to not touch the bag while straddling, allowing all runners to be safe. The inning ended a pitch later on a groundout to Maurer.
“We had a couple of calls not go our way, and I’m still confused about that play at third base, but it is what it is,” O’Leksy said.
Ambrose was tagged for the loss, pitching 3.1 innings of relief and allowing three earned runs on three hits and four walks. Emma Wild started the game for the Cheesemakers, allowing two runs on seven hits and four walks in 3.2 innings of work.
Maurer was Monroe’s lone two-hit performer. She also doubled. Snider had a hit, a walk and reached on bunt in the second.
“Lizzie over the last couple games has been swinging a good bat, which is good for her. She’s been doing well batting and has played a solid third base,” O’Leksy said.
The Cheesemakers were slated to be back in action May 14 at Milton before hosting Argyle, Tomahawk, Portage, Waterford and Verona on May 15 at Twining Park in a tournament.
“We talked about it in the huddle afterwards, we knew what we needed to do to win this game. Now we just have to turn our heads to Milton,” O’Leksy said.
