Terlaje powers Monroe to victory

ROCHESTER - The MCC softball team rode the right arm and powerful bat of Amber Terlaje to an 8-3 victory over Niagara County Community College in a Region III, Division III sub-regional contest Tuesday afternoon.

Terlaje struck out seven in a complete game performance while going 3-for-3 with a pair of homers at the plate to pace the second-seeded Tribunes (21-10). Monroe now advances to the Region IIIB finals, where they will face No. 3 Corning in a best 2-of-3 series at Genesee Community College starting Friday.

Niagara scored a run in the top of the first before MCC got things started in the bottom half. Julia Grace was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, and after two quick outs, Terlaje launched a two-run homer to deep left for a 2-1 lead.

The Thunderwolves tied it with a run in the third. But the Tribunes then put up three in the fourth for some breathing room.

Terlaje led off with a loud single off the wall in left. Jennifer Teerlinck followed with a triple to right center for a 3-2 lead. Teerlinck then slid under the tag to score on a Taylor House fielder's choice to make it 4-2.

House stole second, moved to third on a passed ball, and scored on a Jen Newell single to cap the inning.

Monroe then put it away with three more in the fifth. Terlaje blasted her 11th home run of the season, a one-out shot that easily cleared the left-field fence. Emily DeFilippo followed with an RBI double, and came home on a Thunderwolf error to make it 8-2.

Terlaje worked around a solo homer by Niagara in the sixth and set down the Thunderwolves in the seventh to close out her 13th win of the year.

Terlaje finished with three runs scored and three RBIs on the game. Teerlinck and Maria Marcera added two hits apiece.