MONONA - Senior Gwen Sutter led a 10-hit attack with a two-run homer and the Monroe Cheese-makers broke a 1-1 tie with six runs in the fifth inning and three runs in the sixth to pound out a 10-7 win over Monona Grove Thursday.
Monroe had just two hits heading into the top half of the fifth inning with the game tied 1-1 when junior Tasha Frie belted a triple to lead off the inning. After a Monona Grove error, the Cheesemakers got four straight hits. Junior Kelsey Erickson's single was followed by a two-run single off the bat of senior Brandi Trewartha and another two-run single by junior Kristin McArdle.
That gave Monroe a 5-1 lead. Sutter then followed with the two-run blast to put Monroe out in front 7-1.
Monona Grove stormed back in the bottom of the fifth with five runs to close the gap to 7-6, but the Cheesemakers countered in the sixth thanks to defensive lapses by the Silver Eagles. Three Monona Grove errors, plus a hit batter, coupled with base hits by Erickson and Trewartha pushed across three more runs for the Cheesemakers and a 10-6 lead they would not relinquish.
"We're still not hitting on all cylinders yet," said Monroe head coach Dale Buvid. "It was good to see the bats come alive in the fifth and sixth and it's good to get a win. That breaks a four-game losing streak and we're not used to losing four in a row."
McArdle pitched all seven innings for Monroe and allowed five earned runs on 11 hits. She walked four and struck out three to earn the complete-game victory.
Monroe (2-6, 2-1 Badger South) will begin a brutal stretch of seven games in six days beginning with a conference game at Madison Edgewood Monday.
Monroe had just two hits heading into the top half of the fifth inning with the game tied 1-1 when junior Tasha Frie belted a triple to lead off the inning. After a Monona Grove error, the Cheesemakers got four straight hits. Junior Kelsey Erickson's single was followed by a two-run single off the bat of senior Brandi Trewartha and another two-run single by junior Kristin McArdle.
That gave Monroe a 5-1 lead. Sutter then followed with the two-run blast to put Monroe out in front 7-1.
Monona Grove stormed back in the bottom of the fifth with five runs to close the gap to 7-6, but the Cheesemakers countered in the sixth thanks to defensive lapses by the Silver Eagles. Three Monona Grove errors, plus a hit batter, coupled with base hits by Erickson and Trewartha pushed across three more runs for the Cheesemakers and a 10-6 lead they would not relinquish.
"We're still not hitting on all cylinders yet," said Monroe head coach Dale Buvid. "It was good to see the bats come alive in the fifth and sixth and it's good to get a win. That breaks a four-game losing streak and we're not used to losing four in a row."
McArdle pitched all seven innings for Monroe and allowed five earned runs on 11 hits. She walked four and struck out three to earn the complete-game victory.
Monroe (2-6, 2-1 Badger South) will begin a brutal stretch of seven games in six days beginning with a conference game at Madison Edgewood Monday.
