“Brookville is always solid, and it always seems to be a one-run game between us, so we wanted to come out strong,” said Eschmeyer, who went 3-for-3 with four RBIs. “None of us probably expected we would take such a big lead in the first inning, so we were a little shocked. Being a league game, opening that way in the games that matter most, it’s big for our confidence.”
Monroe (3-0) scored 11 runs on six hits and an error that first inning off Erin Gardner (0-1), including consecutive singles by Alexis Arnold, Samantha Key and Samantha Schwab after Eschmeyer’s sacrifice fly drove in leadoff batter Faith Hensley to get things going.
Eight of the runs came with two outs as two batters scored on bases-loaded walks, two came in on passed balls, two on Eschmeyer’s double her second time up, one on Key’s second RBI single and another on an error.
Brookville (0-1) was facing an opponent for the first time this year after all its scrimmages and previously scheduled games were cancelled because of weather.
“We’re a really young team,” Blue Devils coach Brittany Hunley said. “I’ve got three freshman starters that play some club, select-team ball, but for the most part they are fresh out of junior high, so to have those young players mingle with my upperclassmen, it’s been a challenge just getting them to be on that same aggressive level. We’re growing, but that first inning was killer trying to get out of that and trying to dig ourselves out of the hole we created.”
Gardner seemed to settle down after the first inning for Brookville, allowing just one hit over the next two scoreless frames, but the Hornets’ bats came back to life in the fourth for another four runs on five hits, highlighted by Hensley’s two-run double with two outs.
The Blue Devils had some chances offensively to chip away at the lead before that, but left eight runners on base. Hornets freshman pitcher Alyssa Wagner (2-0) scattered seven hits and struck out six in four innings before Hunter Salyers came in to close the game with a 1-2-3 fifth inning.
“They put some pressure on us, and we were able to overcome some of that,” said Monroe assistant coach Jeff Eschmeyer, speaking in head coach Tim Kellis’ absence. “Our defense is probably stronger than it has been in a long, long time, and we’re excited and looking forward to the season to see how that plays out.”
Both teams are scheduled to play Thursday, the Hornets at Oakwood and Brookville at home against Bellbrook.
Brookville 000-00—0-7-2
Monroe (11)00-4x—15-12-0
WP – Alyssa Wagner (2-0); LP — Erin Gardner (0-1). Records: B 0-1, 0-1 SWBL Southwestern; M 3-0, 1-0 SWBL Southwestern
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