MONROE — The Monroe Bearcats flexed their muscles both at the plate and on the mound as three Monroe batters homered and starting pitcher McKenzie Schulz threw a two-hitter in the Bearcats’ 8-2 victory over Archbishop Murphy in a non-league game Thursday.
Center fielder Megan Rybar (1-for-3 with two RBI), catcher Morgan Allen (2-for-2, two RBI) and first baseman Michaela Johnson (1-for-3, two RBI) combined for six of Monroe’s eight runs.
“I expected a lot of power in this lineup this season, but to see it so early in the season is [great],” Monroe head coach Mike Birch said. “I knew [the power] was there, but it was a pleasant surprise.”
On the mound, Schulz struck out 16 of the 25 batters she faced and gave up two unearned runs due to a fielding error in the fourth inning. “She’s definitely our ace,” Birch said. “And shes a freshman, which is quite remarkable.”
Schulz (3-0) is off to a strong start this season, with a Thursday’s performance and a 17-strikeout outing against a Redmond team that was ranked fifth last year.
Monroe opens league play against Snohomish at 4 p.m. Wednesday at Sky River Park.
At Sky River Park
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Baylee Robertson and Alyson Matrotti, McKenzie Schulz and Morgan Allen. WP—Schulz (3-0). LP—Robertson. HR—Megan Rybar (M) 1, Morgan Allen (M) 1, Michaela Johnson (M) 1. Records—Archbishop Murphy 0-1 overall. Monroe 3-0.
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