Monroe’s Walk-Off Single Lifts Lawrence Tech in Extras at Space Coast
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNI | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| LAW | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
VIERA WEST, Fla. — Delaney Monroe delivered a pinch-hit, walk-off single in the bottom of the eighth inning to cap a 2-1 extra-inning win for Lawrence Tech over the University of Fort Lauderdale on Wednesday morning at the Space Coast Complex in the opener of a doubleheader on the Blue Devils’ spring break trip.
With the international tiebreaker runner in scoring position to start the frame, the Blue Devils turned to Monroe off the bench, and the Vicksburg, Mich., native came through. Her single into the outfield scored Lauren Miller from second with the deciding run, breaking a 1-1 deadlock that had held since the third inning and securing the one-run victory for Lawrence Tech.
The late-inning dramatics backed a complete-game effort from right-hander Natilee Pridemore. The Woodhaven, Mich., product worked all eight innings in the circle, limiting Fort Lauderdale to four hits and one run. She struck out five, did not allow a walk, and needed just 82 pitches to navigate the Sharks’ lineup while keeping them off the board after the third.
Fort Lauderdale struck first in the top of the third. After a double and a hit-by-pitch set up the opportunity, J. Heimberger grounded out on a sacrifice to bring home B. Kling for a 1-0 lead. Pridemore avoided further damage, and the Blue Devils answered immediately in the home half of the inning.
In the bottom of the third, Lawrence Tech manufactured the tying run. Ashley Stafford reached and moved into scoring position before Miller delivered a run-scoring single to even the score at 1-1. From there, both pitchers took control. Fort Lauderdale starter A. Glem matched Pridemore for most of the morning, going 7 1/3 innings while allowing seven hits, two runs and five strikeouts on 73 pitches.
Lawrence Tech’s defense backed Pridemore with a clean effort in the field, committing no errors and stranding three Fort Lauderdale baserunners. Pridemore also worked around an early miscue on the bases, when she was picked off first by Glem to end the second inning, and settled in to retire key hitters in the middle frames to keep the game tied.
Offensively, the Blue Devils finished with seven hits and drew three walks, leaving five runners on base but capitalizing when it mattered most in extras. Monroe’s pinch-hit RBI and Miller’s earlier run-scoring single accounted for both Lawrence Tech runs, while Kling led Fort Lauderdale with a 2-for-3 day that included a double and the team’s lone run scored.
The win gave Lawrence Tech early momentum on Wednesday’s twinbill in Florida and added another tight, low-scoring result to the Blue Devils’ spring break slate as they continued play at the Space Coast Complex.
