MONROE - Monroe softball coach Dale Buvid knows what the missing link has been for the Cheesemakers' offense early this season.
"The extra base hit has been missing from our offense," Buvid said.
Monroe pounded out eight hits, including three for extra bases, as the Cheesemakers slugged their way to a 10-0 win Thursday over Monona Grove.
"Against better pitching, it's been kind of inconsistent," Buvid said of the Cheesemakers' ability to drive the ball for extra-base hits.
Buvid said the Cheesemakers strive for two extra-base hits a game and before Thursday averaged less than one per contest.
It didn't take Monroe (7-4, 4-0 Badger South) long to jump on Silver Eagles' starting pitcher Jessica Schmitz with a four-run first inning. Monroe junior Paisley Bennett looped a single to right leading off the first. Monroe senior Maggie Schuttler walked. Fellow senior Emily Rufenacht, who was 3-for-3 with two RBI, lined an RBI single to right. The big blow in the first came from sophomore Kelsey Erickson, who rocketed a two-run triple to center to give the Cheesemakers a 3-0 lead.
Erickson, who went 2-for-3 with three RBI, wanted to get out to a strong start.
"I was really excited," Erickson said. "I was hoping to get the rest of the team pumped and I did that."
Rufenacht wasn't going to overlook Monona Grove.
"We didn't want to take Monona Grove lightly because they beat McFarland," Rufenacht said. "We just wanted to take it to them."
The Cheesemakers' offense kept rolling by batting around the order in a five-run fourth. Monroe senior Coree Lee led off by driving a double to left. The Silver Eagles walked Gwen Sutter and Bennett to load the bases. Schuttler then followed by crushing a three-run triple to center to give the Cheesemakers an insurmountable 8-0 lead. Rufenacht and Erickson came through with RBI singles to seal the game in five innings.
Rufenacht said the Cheesemakers have been inconsistent hitting this year, but in the game against Monona Grove the team stepped up.
Erickson said the timely hits were key in the five-run fourth.
Monroe senior Meghan Roberts pitched a three-hit shutout. The Silver Eagles had five base runners in the game. Bennett made a pinpoint throw from her catching position to first base to pickoff Elizabeth Wendt in the third. Roberts was dominant as she struck out seven and walked just one.
"She seems to be getting a little better every time," Buvid said. "We are really happy with her. She can still improve. She will have to if we want to make some noise and win a conference championship and make a deep run in the tournament."
If the Cheesemakers give Roberts enough run support, Roberts and the Cheesemakers will turn a lot of games into five-inning affairs.
The competition for playing time has extended into the season.
"There are 10 or 11 kids who are chomping for some playing time right now," Buvid said. "The kids who hit the ball will play. We are not just seven or eight hitters. We go a little deeper. A lot of teams can't do that."
"The extra base hit has been missing from our offense," Buvid said.
Monroe pounded out eight hits, including three for extra bases, as the Cheesemakers slugged their way to a 10-0 win Thursday over Monona Grove.
"Against better pitching, it's been kind of inconsistent," Buvid said of the Cheesemakers' ability to drive the ball for extra-base hits.
Buvid said the Cheesemakers strive for two extra-base hits a game and before Thursday averaged less than one per contest.
It didn't take Monroe (7-4, 4-0 Badger South) long to jump on Silver Eagles' starting pitcher Jessica Schmitz with a four-run first inning. Monroe junior Paisley Bennett looped a single to right leading off the first. Monroe senior Maggie Schuttler walked. Fellow senior Emily Rufenacht, who was 3-for-3 with two RBI, lined an RBI single to right. The big blow in the first came from sophomore Kelsey Erickson, who rocketed a two-run triple to center to give the Cheesemakers a 3-0 lead.
Erickson, who went 2-for-3 with three RBI, wanted to get out to a strong start.
"I was really excited," Erickson said. "I was hoping to get the rest of the team pumped and I did that."
Rufenacht wasn't going to overlook Monona Grove.
"We didn't want to take Monona Grove lightly because they beat McFarland," Rufenacht said. "We just wanted to take it to them."
The Cheesemakers' offense kept rolling by batting around the order in a five-run fourth. Monroe senior Coree Lee led off by driving a double to left. The Silver Eagles walked Gwen Sutter and Bennett to load the bases. Schuttler then followed by crushing a three-run triple to center to give the Cheesemakers an insurmountable 8-0 lead. Rufenacht and Erickson came through with RBI singles to seal the game in five innings.
Rufenacht said the Cheesemakers have been inconsistent hitting this year, but in the game against Monona Grove the team stepped up.
Erickson said the timely hits were key in the five-run fourth.
Monroe senior Meghan Roberts pitched a three-hit shutout. The Silver Eagles had five base runners in the game. Bennett made a pinpoint throw from her catching position to first base to pickoff Elizabeth Wendt in the third. Roberts was dominant as she struck out seven and walked just one.
"She seems to be getting a little better every time," Buvid said. "We are really happy with her. She can still improve. She will have to if we want to make some noise and win a conference championship and make a deep run in the tournament."
If the Cheesemakers give Roberts enough run support, Roberts and the Cheesemakers will turn a lot of games into five-inning affairs.
The competition for playing time has extended into the season.
"There are 10 or 11 kids who are chomping for some playing time right now," Buvid said. "The kids who hit the ball will play. We are not just seven or eight hitters. We go a little deeper. A lot of teams can't do that."
