FORT ATKINSON - The Monroe High School softball team's chances of winning a fourth straight Badger South Conference title took a major blow Friday when Fort Atkinson scored the winning run on a wild pitch in the seventh inning for a 9-8 victory over the Cheesemakers.
The Blackhawks scored the winning run when a pitch by senior ace Natalie Dillon's pitch got away from her.
Monroe (15-6, 7-3 Badger South) drops two games behind Badger South Conference leader Stoughton (9-1) with two conference games left.
"It was miserable weather and a miserable game," Monroe coach Dale Buvid said. "They were going to call the game due to darkness and wetness if we could have got out of the inning. They just made one more play than we did."
Monroe senior Cassidy Pivonka went 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBI, and senior Kaya Teasdale was 2-for-4 with two RBI to lead the Cheesemakers.
Pivonka hit a solo home run in the fifth to tie the game at 1. The Cheesemakers added to their lead with a three-run sixth. Teasdale had a key RBI double in the sixth to give the Cheesemakers a 4-1 lead.
It didn't take Fort Atkinson long to answer with a seven-run sixth to take an 8-4 lead. The Blackhawks scored all seven runs in the sixth after two outs and had seven hits off Dillon in the inning.
The Cheesemakers battled back with a four-run seventh to tie the game at 8. Monroe sophomore Alysha Witt had an RBI single, and Pivonka and Teasdale also delivered RBI singles.
That set the stage for an unfortunate bounce in the seventh.
Monroe junior Carly Upmann went 2-for-4.
Fort Atkinson's Natalie Bosh went 3-for-4 with two RBI, and Morgan Dunkleberger finished 3-for-5 with two doubles and two RBI.
Dillon pitched 62⁄3 innings and gave up six earned runs on 14 hits. She struck out three and walked five.
Stoughton is now in the driver's seat to win the conference championship. Monroe will have to win its final two conference games and needs Stoughton to lose two to get a share of the Badger South title. Fort Atkinson (8-2) also has a chance at the title.
Monroe hosts Stoughton at 3:30 p.m. Monday at Twining Park.
"It's disappointing," Buvid said. "Hopefully, we can get over it."
The Blackhawks scored the winning run when a pitch by senior ace Natalie Dillon's pitch got away from her.
Monroe (15-6, 7-3 Badger South) drops two games behind Badger South Conference leader Stoughton (9-1) with two conference games left.
"It was miserable weather and a miserable game," Monroe coach Dale Buvid said. "They were going to call the game due to darkness and wetness if we could have got out of the inning. They just made one more play than we did."
Monroe senior Cassidy Pivonka went 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBI, and senior Kaya Teasdale was 2-for-4 with two RBI to lead the Cheesemakers.
Pivonka hit a solo home run in the fifth to tie the game at 1. The Cheesemakers added to their lead with a three-run sixth. Teasdale had a key RBI double in the sixth to give the Cheesemakers a 4-1 lead.
It didn't take Fort Atkinson long to answer with a seven-run sixth to take an 8-4 lead. The Blackhawks scored all seven runs in the sixth after two outs and had seven hits off Dillon in the inning.
The Cheesemakers battled back with a four-run seventh to tie the game at 8. Monroe sophomore Alysha Witt had an RBI single, and Pivonka and Teasdale also delivered RBI singles.
That set the stage for an unfortunate bounce in the seventh.
Monroe junior Carly Upmann went 2-for-4.
Fort Atkinson's Natalie Bosh went 3-for-4 with two RBI, and Morgan Dunkleberger finished 3-for-5 with two doubles and two RBI.
Dillon pitched 62⁄3 innings and gave up six earned runs on 14 hits. She struck out three and walked five.
Stoughton is now in the driver's seat to win the conference championship. Monroe will have to win its final two conference games and needs Stoughton to lose two to get a share of the Badger South title. Fort Atkinson (8-2) also has a chance at the title.
Monroe hosts Stoughton at 3:30 p.m. Monday at Twining Park.
"It's disappointing," Buvid said. "Hopefully, we can get over it."
