MONROE — After going 0-3 last week, Monroe defeated Portage 12-2 on Tuesday, May 2 with a walk-off double from Katie Witt.

“It felt good, coming out of a little slump myself,” Witt said. “I just had to plane my bat out and barrel it up.”

The win marked the second in as many days, as Monroe defeated Lodi 12-11 on Monday, May 1. 

“I knew we were going to come back from it,” Monroe head coach Joe O’Leksy said. “It was a rough week last week with tough teams. We played very well, but those teams were just really good. It was a stepping stone to playing better this week.”

After a scoreless top of the first, Monroe put up three runs in the bottom half of the frame. Kaegann Paulson and Katrina Sathoff hit back-to-back singles, followed by a double from Brinley Roidt. Had the wind been blowing out instead of in, she would have had her fifth home run of the season.

“Brinley is an absolute beast, and it definitely shows when she’s up to bat,” teammate Witt said of Roidt.

Sophie Golembiewski then brought Roidt home with a triple to left.

Paulson struck out the side in the second, putting the bats right back into her teammates’ hands.

Chesney Slotten led off with a single, and Sydnee Conway moved her into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Sathoff came up clutch with a two-out RBI single to right that scored Slotten, giving Monroe a 4-0 lead.

The Warriors jumped on Paulson in the third inning, though, as the freshman pitcher gave up three hits, one for extra bases. She got out of the inning by striking out No. 5-hitter Mya Bolgrien.

The Cheesemakers made up the two runs and more in the bottom half of the inning.

Roidt once again launched a ball to left that hit the fence for a double. She advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on an RBI-single from Golembiewski. After a fielder’s choice, Kate Kundert and Slotten singled. Conway walked to load the bases, and Paulson brought a run in with a bloop single over short stop.

Paulson, who at this point in the game had struck out six batters, was glad to contribute offensively, too.

“It felt good,” Paulson said. “It keeps my confidence up, and it feels good to help the team.”

After walking the first two batters in the fourth, Paulson bore down to strike out the next two batters. With her quick pace, Paulson then induced a ground ball to Witt at third for a force out.

“I was really amped up for the game. I was really feeling it,” Paulson said. “I don’t do as well when I slow down, so I like to go super fast.”

Monroe went quietly in bottom of the fourth — its only scoreless inning.

Conway sparked a two-out rally in the fifth inning with a single to left. Paulson and Sathoff recorded back-to-back hits scoring two runs. Olivia Feller reached base on an error, allowing Paulson to score. Sathoff was thrown out at third, though, to end the inning.

It took just three hits in the bottom of the sixth to enforce the mercy rule. Roidt and Golembiewski singled, sending Witt to the plate. She delivered a two-RBI double to center to give Monroe a 12-2 win.

Witt was one of six players to have a multiple-hit game. She and Slotten recorded two hits, while Paulson, Sathoff, Roidt and Golembiewski tallied three hits. Paulson pitched all six innings to earn the win. She gave up two earned runs on two hits and struck out nine batters.

Seventh-inning rally lifts Monroe over Lodi

LODI — Despite the cold, windy weather, Monroe squeaked out a win against Lodi on Monday, May 1.

“Half the state canceled or postponed, but we played,” O’Leksy said, referencing the 25 mph winds and cold temps. “We found a way to win, and that’s how we’ve done it all year.”

The Cheesemakers scored two runs in the top of the seventh off RBI hits from Golembiewski and Witt. Golembiewski then shut the Blue Devils down in the bottom of the inning, inducing three goundouts.

Witt and Roidt led the offense, going a combined 4-for-8 with four RBIs. Paulson got the start, going 2 1/3 innings. She gave up three earned runs on two hits. Golembiewski pitched 4 2/3 innings in relief to collect the win. She allowed five unearned runs on five hits.