BELLEVILLE – Belleville East softball pitcher Abi Monroe tripled to start the home half of the eighth inning, then scored on a passed ball to give the Lancers a dramatic 4-3 comeback win over Edwardsville in a critical Southwestern Conference game played Thursday, May 7, 2026, at East’s ballpark.
The win pulled the Lancers to within a half-game of the conference lead at 8-1, while the Tigers suffered their first league loss of the season and are now 9-1, with East having a game in hand in the conference race.
Edwardsville scored first in the opening inning when Lily Stone doubled to center with two out, and scored when Maksine Straub reached on an error by the first baseman, Straub going to second on the play. The Tigers extended their lead in the third, starting when Remi Werden led off by reaching on an error by the pitcher, then scored when Brooke Burris doubled over the left fielder’s head to make it 2-0. One out later, Stone singled home Burris to make the score 3-0 for Edwardsville.
The Lancers drew level in the home half of the third, starting with a leadoff single by Priya Bolling, which was doubled home by Monroe one out later to make it 3-1. After a pop out to second, Addie Kramkowski doubled home Monroe to make it 3-2, then Zoe Peters singled home Kramkowski to make it 3-3.
The two pitchers — Monroe for the Lancers and Marley Fox for the Tigers — then took over, holding the offenses at bay. Still, the Tigers had a chance in the seventh, when Amelia Wilfong reached on an error to lead off the inning, and Burris was intentionally walked to put runners on first and second. A flyout to right field ended the threat.
Aly Koher and Bolling hit back-to-back singles with one out in the bottom of the seventh to give the Lancers a chance to win in regulation, but Koher was called out because of offensive interference, and Ryleigh Ochab struck out to end the threat.
Edwardsville threatened again in the top of the eighth, when Straub singled with one out, and Bryar Elnninger reached on an error to put runners on the corners, but a pair of strikeouts saved the day for East. Monroe led off the home half with a triple to the fence in center, and one out later, scored on a passed ball to give the Lancers the crucial 4-3 win.
Stone led the way for Edwardsville with two hits and an RBI, while Burris had a hit and an RBI, and both Straub and Maggie Bray came up with a hit. Fox went all the way in the circle, pitching 7.1 innings, and was charged with the loss, allowing four runs, two earned, on seven hits, walking one, and striking out eight.
Monroe helped herself with two hits and an RBI for East, while Bolling came up with two hits, Peters and Kramkowski both had a hit and an RBI each, and Kohler had a hit. Monroe went all the way in the circle, pitching eight innings, and was credited with the win, allowing three runs, one earned, on five hits, walking one and fanning six.
The Tigers are now 23-9 and next play their home finale against East St. Louis Tuesday afternoon, May 12, then finish the regular season next Thursday, May 14, at O’Fallon, and at home against Granite City on May 19, with both games starting at 4:30 p.m.
The Lancers are now 25-6 and are at Red Bud on Monday, at Aton on Tuesday, and host East St. Louis next Thursday, all games starting at 4:30 p.m.
