MONROE - Junior Alysha Witt delivered the hit when the Monroe softball team needed it most, coming through with a two-run single in the fifth inning to lead the Cheesemakers to a 4-2 win over Beaver Dam on Saturday in the first game of a doubleheader.
Witt went a combined 4-for-7 with a home run and three RBI in the doubleheader.
Beaver Dam responded by handing the Cheesemakers their first loss in the second game of the twinbill, 6-4.
With Monroe (5-1, 2-0 Badger South) trailing the Beavers 1-0 in the first game, the Cheesemakers battled back with a four-run fifth inning. After Monroe junior Madison Katzenberger and senior Jessie Bennett walked, freshman Grace Tostrud delivered a game-tying RBI single to tie the game at 1. Junior Meredith Hose then had a go-ahead RBI single to give the Cheesemakers a 2-1 lead. Witt followed with a two-run single to extend the lead to 4-1.
"We got the timely hits when we needed them," Monroe coach Joe O'Leksy said. "We only had five hits, but three of them came in the fifth. Their pitcher had two different changeups. We had been getting out in front of it."
Senior centerfielder Lexi Hilliard made a running catch in the seventh and threw to second for a key double play to keep the Cheesemakers in the lead.
"I was very proud of the girls," O'Leksy said. "We had some adversity and we were down 1-0."
Witt went 2-for-3 with two RBI at the plate. Monroe sophomore Olivia Bobak pitched a complete game to get the win. She gave up two runs on seven hits. Bobak struck out 10 and walked six.
Senior Carly Upmann started the second game and pitched five innings. She gave up five earned runs on six hits. Upmann walked four. The Beavers jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first.
"Going into it, (the doubleheader) Bobak had pitched 19 consecutive innings," O'Leksy said. "We wanted to give her some time off."
Witt hit a solo home run to center field in the third that cut the Beavers' lead to 4-3. That was as close as the Cheesemakers would get. Beaver Dam scored two runs in the fourth to take a 6-3 lead.
Hose went 3-for-4 with one RBI and Witt was 2-for-4 with one RBI.
Bobak pitched two shutout innings in relief and struck out three.
"In Game 2, we could never string the hits together," O'Leksy said. "It's never good to get beat, but getting a split with them was O.K."
Witt went a combined 4-for-7 with a home run and three RBI in the doubleheader.
Beaver Dam responded by handing the Cheesemakers their first loss in the second game of the twinbill, 6-4.
With Monroe (5-1, 2-0 Badger South) trailing the Beavers 1-0 in the first game, the Cheesemakers battled back with a four-run fifth inning. After Monroe junior Madison Katzenberger and senior Jessie Bennett walked, freshman Grace Tostrud delivered a game-tying RBI single to tie the game at 1. Junior Meredith Hose then had a go-ahead RBI single to give the Cheesemakers a 2-1 lead. Witt followed with a two-run single to extend the lead to 4-1.
"We got the timely hits when we needed them," Monroe coach Joe O'Leksy said. "We only had five hits, but three of them came in the fifth. Their pitcher had two different changeups. We had been getting out in front of it."
Senior centerfielder Lexi Hilliard made a running catch in the seventh and threw to second for a key double play to keep the Cheesemakers in the lead.
"I was very proud of the girls," O'Leksy said. "We had some adversity and we were down 1-0."
Witt went 2-for-3 with two RBI at the plate. Monroe sophomore Olivia Bobak pitched a complete game to get the win. She gave up two runs on seven hits. Bobak struck out 10 and walked six.
Senior Carly Upmann started the second game and pitched five innings. She gave up five earned runs on six hits. Upmann walked four. The Beavers jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first.
"Going into it, (the doubleheader) Bobak had pitched 19 consecutive innings," O'Leksy said. "We wanted to give her some time off."
Witt hit a solo home run to center field in the third that cut the Beavers' lead to 4-3. That was as close as the Cheesemakers would get. Beaver Dam scored two runs in the fourth to take a 6-3 lead.
Hose went 3-for-4 with one RBI and Witt was 2-for-4 with one RBI.
Bobak pitched two shutout innings in relief and struck out three.
"In Game 2, we could never string the hits together," O'Leksy said. "It's never good to get beat, but getting a split with them was O.K."
