LA VERNE >> Brooklyn Shroyer looks at every at-bat as an opportunity to strike out the batter and impose her dominance from the pitcher’s circle. Just ask the opposing batters who’ve struck out a total of 111 times against the Bonita ace so far this season.

Shroyer struck out seven batters in a complete-game performance Tuesday afternoon en route to a much-needed 3-1 victory over Glendora, securing sole possession of second place in the Palomares League in the process.

“This is the biggest game we’ve played so far this season, considering all factors — losing two (Palomares League) games … and overcoming a pitcher like (Glendora’s) Bridget (Nemeth),” Bonita coach Darren Baumunk said. “I actually think this team can be better than last year’s team and that’s no disrespect to last year’s (CIF-SS title-winning) team.”

Shroyer, who has a 3-1 record as a starting pitcher against Glendora, went pitch for pitch with Nemeth to start the game as the two combined for one total hit, two strikeouts and zero earned runs through the first three innings. But the Bonita ace separated herself from her counterpart in the later innings as she overpowered Glendora batters and limited runs the Tartans scored with runners in scoring position.

Shroyer struck out the side in the top of the seventh to end any hope of Tartan comeback. Conversely, Nemeth pitched a complete game but gave up three earned runs and struck out two.

“(Shroyer) has kept us in so many games this year and I think there’s still another level she can reach,” Baumunk said of his ace. “I think there’s another level and extra speed, where if she wants to, she can find it and (strikeout) some girls when need be.”

After being nearly unhittable for three innings, the Bearcats (11-6, 4-2) finally made contact on a Nemeth pitch and capitalized in two at-bats in the bottom of the fourth inning. Senior outfielder Kailey Scott’s one-out double to left field set up senior shortstop Mireya Rico for an opportunity to push a run across.

Rico, on the first pitch of the at-bat, drove in Scott with a single, giving the Bearcats a 1-0 lead heading into the fifth inning.

The Bearcats struck again in the fifth when Alyssa Doucette, a UC San Diego commit, provided much-needed run support and smacked a two-run homer to left-center field for a 3-0 lead. Doucette drove in sophomore second baseman Camryn Van Valkenburgh, who reached base on a single.

Doucette finished 2 for 3 with a stolen base.

The Tartans responded in the top of the sixth inning and squeaked a run by Shroyer, something Glendora struggled to do all afternoon. After senior center fielder, Mackenna Coleman opened the inning with a leadoff single, outfielder Ryan Speh doubled into the left-field gap and set up a dangerous scoring opportunity — runners on second and third base with one out — for junior third baseman Allison Waite.

Waite hit a deep line drive to the center-field fence, allowing Coleman to tag up from third. Shroyer, in the next at-bat, forced a ground ball and limited the Tartans to just one run.