SPOKANE — In its first game Saturday, the Monroe softball jumped all over Tahoma en route to a lopsided win.
Later in the day the Bearcats had the tables turned.
After beating Tahoma in the quarterfinals of the consolation bracket, Monroe gave up seven runs in the first inning and Richland ran away with a 10-4 win in the consolation semifinals at the 4A State Softball Tournament at Merkel Fields.
The split meant Monroe, the 4A District 1 champion, would finish tied for fifth, its highest finish at state since 2008.
Richland had six hits and Monroe suffered two errors in Richland’s seven-run first inning. Monroe’s Michaela Johnson and Devan Larsen both hit home runs in the game, but the early outburst was too much to overcome for the Bearcats.
“I think fatigue had a little bit to do with it,” said Monroe head coach Curt Eskeback. “It was there fifth game in two days.”
Alyssa Egan, who pitched both games for Monroe, was lights out in the first game. Egan gave up just three hits and one run as Monroe beat Tahoma Saturday morning.
Egan also led the Monroe offense, which erupted for nine runs in the second inning to bust open the game. Egan finished 2-for-3, including a bases-clearing double in the second. Johnson had a two-run home run and Kiley Ochoa had two singles and two RBI in the win.
At Merkel Field, Spokane
Tahoma0100000—131
Monroe090020x—11121
Maddie Scott, Jordan Wallie (2), Mariah Hill (3) and Bre West. Alyssa Egan and Rachael Delamare. WP—Egan. LP—Scott. 2B—Haley Elliott (T) 1, Alyssa Egan (M) 1. HR—Michaela Johnson (M) 1. Records—Monroe 18-10 overall.
Richland 10, Monroe 4
Richland7012000—10150
Monroe1002100—446
Kayla Andrews and Audrey Oleson. Alyssa Egan and Rachael Delamare. WP—Andrews. LP—Egan. HR—Caitlyn Stevens (R) 1, Devan Larsen (M) 1, Michaela Johnson (M) 1. Records—Monroe 18-10 overall.
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