MILTON - It's no secret the Monroe softball team has been scuffling to score runs this season.
That trend continued Monday, when Monroe produced just five hits and had what coach Dale Buvid called "just an ugly, ugly inning" defensively in dropping a 5-0 decision to Milton in a battle of Badger South Conference unbeatens.
Buvid said Monroe (5-4, 3-1 Badger South) and the Red Hawks (9-1, 4-0) are "evenly matched" talent-wise.
"We're as good as they are, but they didn't beat themselves and we did beat ourselves," Buvid said.
Kayla Negus recorded the complete-game victory for Milton, allowing five hits while striking out five and walking one.
"She pitched a solid game. Not overpowering, but good," Buvid said. "We had some scoring chances early and didn't capitalize. When they got their scoring chances, we just didn't play enough defense - and when you're not scoring runs, that's going to get you beat."
Milton scored an unearned run after two were out in the third inning, then added four runs in the fourth against Monroe junior pitcher Becca Armstrong.
"It was a combination of a walk, a wild pitch, errors - we had all that," Buvid said. "They got two hits. One was a bunt single and one was a seeing-eye single up the middle, and they ended up with for runs."
Armstrong went the distance, recording seven strikeouts and issuing two walks.
Sophomore Kayla Updike had two hits to lead the Cheesemakers.
Sophomore Ellie Grossen led off the game with a double, and senior Kasey Gutzmer and sophomore Chandra McGuire added Monroe's other hits.
The Cheesemakers visit Reedsburg today before hosting Milton on Thursday at 5 p.m. at Twining Park.
That trend continued Monday, when Monroe produced just five hits and had what coach Dale Buvid called "just an ugly, ugly inning" defensively in dropping a 5-0 decision to Milton in a battle of Badger South Conference unbeatens.
Buvid said Monroe (5-4, 3-1 Badger South) and the Red Hawks (9-1, 4-0) are "evenly matched" talent-wise.
"We're as good as they are, but they didn't beat themselves and we did beat ourselves," Buvid said.
Kayla Negus recorded the complete-game victory for Milton, allowing five hits while striking out five and walking one.
"She pitched a solid game. Not overpowering, but good," Buvid said. "We had some scoring chances early and didn't capitalize. When they got their scoring chances, we just didn't play enough defense - and when you're not scoring runs, that's going to get you beat."
Milton scored an unearned run after two were out in the third inning, then added four runs in the fourth against Monroe junior pitcher Becca Armstrong.
"It was a combination of a walk, a wild pitch, errors - we had all that," Buvid said. "They got two hits. One was a bunt single and one was a seeing-eye single up the middle, and they ended up with for runs."
Armstrong went the distance, recording seven strikeouts and issuing two walks.
Sophomore Kayla Updike had two hits to lead the Cheesemakers.
Sophomore Ellie Grossen led off the game with a double, and senior Kasey Gutzmer and sophomore Chandra McGuire added Monroe's other hits.
The Cheesemakers visit Reedsburg today before hosting Milton on Thursday at 5 p.m. at Twining Park.
