STOUGHTON - Monroe had an opportunity to upset Stoughton, the top team in the Badger South Conference, but fell just short in a 6-4 loss Monday.
"We played right with the top team in the conference," Monroe coach Dustin Huffman said. "I was happy with the way the guys battled."
Monroe (2-16, 1-9 Badger South) took an early lead when junior Brian Wang delivered an RBI single to score Sean Saxby to give the Cheesemakers a 1-0 lead in the second inning.
The Cheesemakers regained the lead in the top of the third. Junior Matt Coplien picked up the go-ahead RBI on a bases loaded walk. The Cheesemakers had the bases loaded, but couldn't push across any more runs.
"That was a big situation," Huffman said. "If we could have come up with a couple of more runs, it could have changed the outcome of the game. If you are going to beat a team that skilled and talented, we have to take advantage of the opportunity and clutch up and score in those situations."
Monroe sophomore Jaron Kuester went 2-for-3 with two doubles and one RBI.
Junior Lucas Neuenschwander pitched six innings and gave up six earned runs on 10 hits. He struck out two and walked one.
"We know what we are going to get from Luke," Huffman said. "He will go out there and throw strikes and have good control. He won't blow people away. He kept us in the game the whole night."
Monroe will get another chance to knock off Stoughton. The Cheesemakers host the Vikings today.
"We played right with the top team in the conference," Monroe coach Dustin Huffman said. "I was happy with the way the guys battled."
Monroe (2-16, 1-9 Badger South) took an early lead when junior Brian Wang delivered an RBI single to score Sean Saxby to give the Cheesemakers a 1-0 lead in the second inning.
The Cheesemakers regained the lead in the top of the third. Junior Matt Coplien picked up the go-ahead RBI on a bases loaded walk. The Cheesemakers had the bases loaded, but couldn't push across any more runs.
"That was a big situation," Huffman said. "If we could have come up with a couple of more runs, it could have changed the outcome of the game. If you are going to beat a team that skilled and talented, we have to take advantage of the opportunity and clutch up and score in those situations."
Monroe sophomore Jaron Kuester went 2-for-3 with two doubles and one RBI.
Junior Lucas Neuenschwander pitched six innings and gave up six earned runs on 10 hits. He struck out two and walked one.
"We know what we are going to get from Luke," Huffman said. "He will go out there and throw strikes and have good control. He won't blow people away. He kept us in the game the whole night."
Monroe will get another chance to knock off Stoughton. The Cheesemakers host the Vikings today.
