Dougherty softball tops Monroe, 14-8

ALBANY — Dougherty didn’t waste any time Tuesday afternoon.

By the time Monroe could catch its breath, the Lady Trojans had taken control.

Dougherty scored five runs in the first inning and continued piling on from there, building a commanding early lead before holding off Monroe for a 14-8 victory at Gordon Park.

Jalexi Thomas was in the middle of much of the damage for Dougherty, driving in multiple runs and delivering run-scoring hits in the first, third and fifth innings.

The Lady Trojans struck immediately.

Thomas doubled home two runs in the top of the first, and Dougherty added three more before Monroe could get out of the inning. The Lady Trojans weren’t finished.

Dougherty pushed across two more runs in the second before erupting for four in the third to build an 11-0 advantage.

Thomas again delivered during the third-inning rally, while Dariona Simmons and Jazlyn Turner also helped Dougherty add to the lead.

But Monroe didn’t go quietly.

The Lady Tornadoes began chipping away and eventually scored eight runs, with Jamiya Duhart providing the biggest bat in the lineup. Duhart drove in five runs as Monroe tried to climb out of the early hole.

Ariya Lee, Raquel Timley and others also contributed offensively for Monroe, which showed patience at the plate and repeatedly worked its way on base.

The problem was overcoming Dougherty’s first three innings.

The Lady Trojans combined aggressive baserunning with timely hitting and took advantage of Monroe mistakes to create an early cushion that proved too large to erase.

Dougherty was particularly active on the basepaths, with Simmons, Sorai Hamilton and Sasha Hill among those creating pressure with their speed.

Alona Harris started in the circle for Dougherty and struck out six over three innings before Thomas took over in relief. Thomas was effective there, too, recording 10 strikeouts over the final four innings to help protect the lead.

Duhart went the distance for Monroe, striking out four.

Monroe did manage to make things interesting after falling behind 11-0. The Lady Tornadoes continued putting runners on base and producing runs rather than allowing the game to get away from them completely.

But every comeback has its limits.

Dougherty had done too much damage too early.

The Lady Trojans’ five-run first inning established the tone, and by the end of the third, they had an 11-run cushion.

Monroe spent the rest of Tuesday afternoon chasing it.

Dougherty made sure the Lady Tornadoes never caught up.

The two teams will play again Thursday – this time a doubleheader that will begin at 4 p.m.