MADISON - Junior Hailey Betthauser hit two home runs to help the Monroe softball team sweep a doubleheader against Waunakee Saturday at Madison College.
Monroe (17-1, 8-0 Badger South), ranked No. 4 in the Division 2 Wisconsin Softball Coaches Association state poll, beat Waunakee 4-1 in the first game and knocked off the Warriors 13-9 in the second game of a twinbill.
Betthauser went 2-for-4 with two home runs, four RBIs and three runs scored in the second game.
"She had been in a little bit of a slump," Monroe coach Joe O'Leksy said. "She had a great day offensively and defensively. She made three really good running catches in the outfield. Our girls have been finding ways to win. We have been finding different ways to win all year long whether it's pitching, defense or hitting. When one girl has a tough day, another one picks them up."
In the first game, Monroe junior Olivia Bobak pitched a complete game and gave up one run on six hits to get the win. She struck out seven and walked just one.
"Bobak threw well," O'Leksy said. "All of her pitches were working."
The Warriors had a golden scoring opportunity with two runners on and no outs in the first. Monroe freshman right fielder Sydney Updike made a key catch and then threw a runner out at the plate for an inning-ending double play to keep the game scoreless.
"That was a great play by Updike and a good tag by (senior Meredith) Hose at home," O'Leksy said.
The Cheesemakers broke the game open with a three-run third inning. Hose had a two-run triple, and Betthauser followed with an RBI single to extend the Cheesemakers' lead to 3-0.
Monroe freshman Katie Hayes went 2-for-2, and senior Madison Katzenberger was 2-for-3.
The Cheesemakers overcame five errors in the second inning of the second game and a 7-3 deficit to come back to beat the Warriors. Waunakee scored seven runs in the second as the Cheesemakers struggled fielding.
"It was just a nightmare second inning," O'Leksy said. "I think after a couple of errors, we tensed up a little bit and kept on making errors. That was a little bit uncharacteristic. I can't ever remember having an inning like that. Whatever could go wrong went wrong."
Monroe battled back with a six-run fourth that featured two errors by Waunakee as the Cheesemakers regained the lead. Monroe senior Alysha Witt reached on an error, and Bobak walked. Updike had an RBI single, and Katzenberger singled. Monroe freshman Alyse Maurer delivered an RBI single. Monroe sophomore Grace Tostrud reached on an error and two runs scored. Hose then came through with an RBI single to help the Cheesemakers take a 9-7 lead.
In the sixth inning, Maurer doubled to left and Tostrud singled. Betthauser crushed a three-run home run to left center to seal the victory for the Cheesemakers.
Bobak pitched three innings and gave up seven unearned runs on two hits. She struck out four and walked one. Maurer pitched four innings in relief, gave up two runs on four hits and walked just one to get the win.
The Cheesemakers pounded out 14 hits. In addition to Betthauser, the other players with multi-hit games include Maurer (3-for-4, two runs scored, one RBI), Tostrud (2-for-3, two runs scored), Bobak (2-for-4, two RBIs), Updike (2-for-4, two runs scored, one RBI) and Katzenberger (2-for-5, one RBI).
"Maurer really came through," O'Leksy said of her pitching. "It was really hot on that new turf field, and Olivia (Bobak) went as far as she could. Maurer did a great job. She battled."
O'Leksy was excited to see the team respond to adversity and get the sweep over the Warriors.
"Waunakee is second in the North right now behind DeForest," O'Leksy said. "Waunakee beat DeForest earlier this year and (DeForest) is ranked. Waunakee is a good, solid team. This is two solid wins for us."
Monroe (17-1, 8-0 Badger South), ranked No. 4 in the Division 2 Wisconsin Softball Coaches Association state poll, beat Waunakee 4-1 in the first game and knocked off the Warriors 13-9 in the second game of a twinbill.
Betthauser went 2-for-4 with two home runs, four RBIs and three runs scored in the second game.
"She had been in a little bit of a slump," Monroe coach Joe O'Leksy said. "She had a great day offensively and defensively. She made three really good running catches in the outfield. Our girls have been finding ways to win. We have been finding different ways to win all year long whether it's pitching, defense or hitting. When one girl has a tough day, another one picks them up."
In the first game, Monroe junior Olivia Bobak pitched a complete game and gave up one run on six hits to get the win. She struck out seven and walked just one.
"Bobak threw well," O'Leksy said. "All of her pitches were working."
The Warriors had a golden scoring opportunity with two runners on and no outs in the first. Monroe freshman right fielder Sydney Updike made a key catch and then threw a runner out at the plate for an inning-ending double play to keep the game scoreless.
"That was a great play by Updike and a good tag by (senior Meredith) Hose at home," O'Leksy said.
The Cheesemakers broke the game open with a three-run third inning. Hose had a two-run triple, and Betthauser followed with an RBI single to extend the Cheesemakers' lead to 3-0.
Monroe freshman Katie Hayes went 2-for-2, and senior Madison Katzenberger was 2-for-3.
The Cheesemakers overcame five errors in the second inning of the second game and a 7-3 deficit to come back to beat the Warriors. Waunakee scored seven runs in the second as the Cheesemakers struggled fielding.
"It was just a nightmare second inning," O'Leksy said. "I think after a couple of errors, we tensed up a little bit and kept on making errors. That was a little bit uncharacteristic. I can't ever remember having an inning like that. Whatever could go wrong went wrong."
Monroe battled back with a six-run fourth that featured two errors by Waunakee as the Cheesemakers regained the lead. Monroe senior Alysha Witt reached on an error, and Bobak walked. Updike had an RBI single, and Katzenberger singled. Monroe freshman Alyse Maurer delivered an RBI single. Monroe sophomore Grace Tostrud reached on an error and two runs scored. Hose then came through with an RBI single to help the Cheesemakers take a 9-7 lead.
In the sixth inning, Maurer doubled to left and Tostrud singled. Betthauser crushed a three-run home run to left center to seal the victory for the Cheesemakers.
Bobak pitched three innings and gave up seven unearned runs on two hits. She struck out four and walked one. Maurer pitched four innings in relief, gave up two runs on four hits and walked just one to get the win.
The Cheesemakers pounded out 14 hits. In addition to Betthauser, the other players with multi-hit games include Maurer (3-for-4, two runs scored, one RBI), Tostrud (2-for-3, two runs scored), Bobak (2-for-4, two RBIs), Updike (2-for-4, two runs scored, one RBI) and Katzenberger (2-for-5, one RBI).
"Maurer really came through," O'Leksy said of her pitching. "It was really hot on that new turf field, and Olivia (Bobak) went as far as she could. Maurer did a great job. She battled."
O'Leksy was excited to see the team respond to adversity and get the sweep over the Warriors.
"Waunakee is second in the North right now behind DeForest," O'Leksy said. "Waunakee beat DeForest earlier this year and (DeForest) is ranked. Waunakee is a good, solid team. This is two solid wins for us."
