ORLANDO, Fla. - When the Cheesemakers packed their bags for Florida, they may have forgotten a phone charger or two, but they certainly didn't forget to bring their bats. Monroe throttled Piqua (Ohio) 14-2 at the Disney-ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex Thursday afternoon to move to 2-0 on the season.
"Certainly, we are really happy getting 16 hits and 14 runs," Monroe head coach Joe O'Lesky said.
The Cheesemakers opened the game with an explosive six-run first inning, highlighted by Grace Tostrud's monster three-run home run over the left field fence.
"Grace hit an absolute shot through the wind. The wind must have been coming in at 10-15 miles per hour, and she just crushed it," O'Lesky said.
Tostrud finished two-for-four in the game with four RBIs and two runs scored. Meredith Hose was four-for-five with an RBI and a stolen base for Monroe, which also got big games from Madison Katzenberger (2x4, two RBIs, two runs), Sydney Updike (2x5, three RBIs, two runs) and Hailey Betthauser (3x3, two runs, double).
On the mound, Olivia Bobak went six innings, allowing just two hits, one earned run and three walks while striking out 11.
"Bobak started strong and was overpowering," O'Lesky said. "The heat was a factor for us - it was 89 degrees and we are not used to it, but Bobak settled us in."
Alyse Maurer pitched the seventh and final inning for the Cheesemakers. Monroe scored two runs in the third, one in the fourth and added five more in the seventh as insurance for Maurer.
O'Lesky was pleased with his team's defense as much as the offense.
"We didn't have any errors, which was great. That was our Achilles heal last year," he said.
Monroe plays Dallas (Pennsylvania) at 9 a.m. today in a doubleheader. The Cheesemakers' final game in Florida is scheduled for 7 a.m. Saturday. Upon returning home, Monroe will travel to Watertown on Tuesday.
In other action Thursday, Pecatonica lost to Riverdale at home, 6-0.
"Certainly, we are really happy getting 16 hits and 14 runs," Monroe head coach Joe O'Lesky said.
The Cheesemakers opened the game with an explosive six-run first inning, highlighted by Grace Tostrud's monster three-run home run over the left field fence.
"Grace hit an absolute shot through the wind. The wind must have been coming in at 10-15 miles per hour, and she just crushed it," O'Lesky said.
Tostrud finished two-for-four in the game with four RBIs and two runs scored. Meredith Hose was four-for-five with an RBI and a stolen base for Monroe, which also got big games from Madison Katzenberger (2x4, two RBIs, two runs), Sydney Updike (2x5, three RBIs, two runs) and Hailey Betthauser (3x3, two runs, double).
On the mound, Olivia Bobak went six innings, allowing just two hits, one earned run and three walks while striking out 11.
"Bobak started strong and was overpowering," O'Lesky said. "The heat was a factor for us - it was 89 degrees and we are not used to it, but Bobak settled us in."
Alyse Maurer pitched the seventh and final inning for the Cheesemakers. Monroe scored two runs in the third, one in the fourth and added five more in the seventh as insurance for Maurer.
O'Lesky was pleased with his team's defense as much as the offense.
"We didn't have any errors, which was great. That was our Achilles heal last year," he said.
Monroe plays Dallas (Pennsylvania) at 9 a.m. today in a doubleheader. The Cheesemakers' final game in Florida is scheduled for 7 a.m. Saturday. Upon returning home, Monroe will travel to Watertown on Tuesday.
In other action Thursday, Pecatonica lost to Riverdale at home, 6-0.
