MONROE - By her own admission, it's been a tough week for Monroe junior Kendra Clark.
With the Monroe softball team clinging to a 2-1 lead in the fifth inning, Clark came through when she lined a two-run single that helped the Cheesemakers beat Milton 4-1 Friday for their first win this year.
"It has really been a bad week," Clark said, who was 2-for-3 to lead the Cheesemakers. "I have been sick. I kept thinking to myself, 'Keep my shoulder in and just wait on it.' I just waited for my pitch and I hit it. It was great to get some runs early and take the pressure off our pitcher - Kristin (McArdle)."
The scoring opportunity in the fifth was set up when senior Brandi Trewartha crushed a double to right center. Junior Kelsey Erickson, who was 2-for-3 with two stolen bases, followed with a single. That set the stages for Clark, who knocked in Trewartha and Erickson to give the Cheesemakers a cushion.
"Milton is the conference favorite," Monroe coach Dale Buvid said. "A week of practice really made a difference. A week ago in Florida, we didn't play very good."
The Cheesemakers (1-2, 1-0 Badger South), who are ranked 10th in the Division 2 WisSports.net Coaches preseason poll, made their scoring chances by running the bases hard in the second. Monroe senior Gwen Sutter walked. Junior Rebecca Flannery came in as a courtesy runner, and McArdle was hit by a pitch. Monroe senior Abby Kennison then came through with a clutch RBI single. When Kennison later stole second, McArdle scored when the throw to second went into center field to give the Cheesemakers a 2-0 lead.
McArdle pitched a complete game and only gave up four hits. She struck out four, walked two and gave up just one run.
Milton senior Morgan Janes led the Red Hawks as she was 3-for-4 with a towering home run in the fourth.
Buvid said it comes down to pitchers throwing strikes and McArdle did that with good location.
"We played flawless defense behind her," Buvid said. "We have come a long way in a week."
With the Monroe softball team clinging to a 2-1 lead in the fifth inning, Clark came through when she lined a two-run single that helped the Cheesemakers beat Milton 4-1 Friday for their first win this year.
"It has really been a bad week," Clark said, who was 2-for-3 to lead the Cheesemakers. "I have been sick. I kept thinking to myself, 'Keep my shoulder in and just wait on it.' I just waited for my pitch and I hit it. It was great to get some runs early and take the pressure off our pitcher - Kristin (McArdle)."
The scoring opportunity in the fifth was set up when senior Brandi Trewartha crushed a double to right center. Junior Kelsey Erickson, who was 2-for-3 with two stolen bases, followed with a single. That set the stages for Clark, who knocked in Trewartha and Erickson to give the Cheesemakers a cushion.
"Milton is the conference favorite," Monroe coach Dale Buvid said. "A week of practice really made a difference. A week ago in Florida, we didn't play very good."
The Cheesemakers (1-2, 1-0 Badger South), who are ranked 10th in the Division 2 WisSports.net Coaches preseason poll, made their scoring chances by running the bases hard in the second. Monroe senior Gwen Sutter walked. Junior Rebecca Flannery came in as a courtesy runner, and McArdle was hit by a pitch. Monroe senior Abby Kennison then came through with a clutch RBI single. When Kennison later stole second, McArdle scored when the throw to second went into center field to give the Cheesemakers a 2-0 lead.
McArdle pitched a complete game and only gave up four hits. She struck out four, walked two and gave up just one run.
Milton senior Morgan Janes led the Red Hawks as she was 3-for-4 with a towering home run in the fourth.
Buvid said it comes down to pitchers throwing strikes and McArdle did that with good location.
"We played flawless defense behind her," Buvid said. "We have come a long way in a week."
