Taylor and Rocha homers doom Madison

William Monroe sophomore Emma Taylor and senior Riley Rocha each hit homers Friday night giving the Dragons enough runs to beat host Madison County in a non-district softball game played at Hoover Ridge Park.

Monroe easily won 18-3 in a five-inning slaughter-rule game, ruining the Mountaineers’ home opener.

Taylor’s second-inning, two-run homer over the centerfield fence gave Monroe (3-2) a 2-1 advantage and Rocha’s grand slam over the left-centerfield fence in the third inning put the Dragons ahead 10-1.

GreeneJournal/MadRapp VIDEO: Riley Rocha post-game interview.

Freshman pitcher Olivia Frazier started for Madison (0-4) and lasted three innings.

Frazier walked four and struck out one Dragon batter. She also threw two wild pitches. But the 11 errors her defense gave up left Frazier facing a 13-run deficit when she exited the game.

SLIDESHOW: William Monroe softball at Madison County. GreeneJournal/MadRapp photo by Erin Rocha.

Senior Kiersten Jenkins started in the circle going three innings for the Dragons.

Jenkins struck out two Mountaineer batters and walked none.

Reagan Shifflett came on in relief in the fourth, finishing with two strikeouts and a walk. She yielded a RBI single.

Freshman Delana Taylor went 5-for-5 for Monroe and scored three runs. Freshman Reagan Shifflett and Senior Avery Shifflett both hit 2 of 3. Reagan Shifflett scored twice and Avery Shifflett, once.

Dragons scoring multiple runs included senior Morgan Pursel (3) and senior Brooklyn Roach (2).

Freshman Isabella Morehead led Madison with two hits.

Scoring for the Mountaineers were junior Caleigh Smith, senior Hailey Danuser, and sophomore Isabella Dietrich.

Madison opens Bull Run District play next week, hitting the road with a game at Shenandoah, Monday, for a 6 p.m. game against Page County and Thursday, for a 6 p.m. game in Luray.

Monroe hosts Culpeper County for a 6 p.m. game on Tuesday. The Dragons will then be off until April 5, when the team opens Valley District play against Broadway.