In the clutch: Bottom of the order comes through for Rams in Division I sectional championship

MADISON TOWNSHIP — When the Nos. 6, 7, 8 and 9 batters in the order can combine for five hits, it is a coach's dream.

When they do it in a Division I sectional championship game, well, Madison's Tim Niswander floats on cloud nine.

Allie Shrader, Emma Stankovich, Libby Bekeleski and Kendyll Kershner had five of the Rams' six hits during a 3-0 sectional championship win over Oregon Clay on Wednesday night to keep their postseason run alive. Stankovich had two hits with an RBI with a bomb of a hit that clanked off of the tip of the fence and back into play in the third inning.

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"It is all about getting a pitch to hit and putting it where they aren't," Stankovich said. "We are just trying to hit the ball and do our jobs. We are seeing the ball very well and swinging with confidence and that is when good things happen."

After her long single, Stankovich was given a courtesy runner as Liv Ash took to the bases. Bekeleski then ripped a double to left center and Ash got on her horse and scored from first to give the Rams their first lead of the night.

"Liv Ash at first base was screaming around the bases on that double," Niswander said. "If she is not off and running on contact and running hard, we do not score that run and it is a different feeling in this game. That was a huge play that people don't realize. She gave it everything she had to get around there."

The Rams scored another in the fifth when Emily Nolan added an infield single to score Ash for a second time before Stankovich added an insurance run in the sixth with a single to third scoring Campbell Kiser.

With the 1-5 batters going a combined 1-for-12, it was the bottom of the order which stepped up with five solid hits.

"And two of them were off the fence," Niswander said. "We have talked to them before and we did again before the game just reassuring they understand that sometimes, the top isn't going to carry the order and they were going to have to come through for us. That is what they did tonight. At some point, and we are hoping it happens for the next four weeks, we are all going to start hitting and when we do, we will be a real problem."

Niswander was proud of the way Bekeleski, a sophomore left fielder playing in the first varsity tournament game of her career, stepped up in a big way for her team.

"She is a kid who has a wealth of talent and when she realized how good she can be without having to do things over and above her realm, she is going to be really, really good," Niswander said. "It is such a luxury to have her in the 8-hole because she hits some bombs and hits it so hard. We are very happy with her progression."

Layla Azmoun tossed another complete-game shutout, scattering six hits with five strikeouts and just one walk in seven innings. Other than their first two batters, Oregon Clay had just one hit throughout the rest of the lineup.

Stankovich has really started coming along of late. Against Clear Fork on Monday, she had a pair of hits and added one more with an RBI against Wooster on Tuesday all before her two-hit night in the sectional final. It is all a credit to her simple approach to the game as well has her defense behind the plate.

"She doesn't over think it at all," Niswander said. "It really is as simple of an approach as you can have. She looks for a pitch she can drive hard and that is what she swings at. She has hit more missiles for outs than anyone on our team. Tonight, she dialed in because she didn't overthink it and is doing her thing behind the plate and not trying to do too much. She has done a great job with Layla and letting me know what is going on. When she steps in the box, it is her, the ball and the pitcher and nothing else exists and that is fantastic."

The Rams (19-5) move on to play Findlay at 6 p.m. on May 14 at Bowling Green State University in the Division I district semifinals.

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This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: In the clutch: Bottom of the order comes through for Rams in Division I sectional championship