Belles Swept by No. 24 Lady Reds
Game One Box Score - Game Two Box Score
NOTRE DAME, Ind. - The Saint Mary's softball team suffered a pair of losses at home to No. 24 Carthage by 8-0 and 12-5 scores.
In the opener, the Lady Reds spread out their scoring by posting two runs in the second, third, fifth, and sixth innings to take an 8-0 win in six frames. The Belles had a tough time getting the offense going in the first game. Saint Mary's stranded a runner on third in the bottom of the first, but was unable to get another runner into scoring position over the next five innings. Kristen Nelson picked up the Belles' lone hit of the contest as she bounced a single up the middle in the bottom of the third.
Callie Selner suffered the loss in the circle allowing four earned runs and striking out five in six innings of work.
In game two, Carthage jumped out to a 8-0 lead after their at-bats in the third inning after plating seven runs in the second and adding another in the third.
The Belles would not go down easily in game two, however. Saint Mary's strung five consecutive hits together, including doubles by Kristen Nelson and Morgan Bedan and singles by Lauren Enayati, Emily Sherwood, and Callie Selner, to push three runs across the plate in the bottom half of the third.
Morgan Bedan steps on home plate
after hitting a two-run home run
against Carthage.Carthage got a run back in the top of the fourth inning, but the Belles continued to apply the pressure on the Lady Reds. In the bottom of the fifth, Lauren Enayati punched a single up the middle of the Carthage defense to lead off the inning. Two batters later, Morgan Bedan drilled a home run well over the right-center field fence, the first of her seven career home runs to come at the Saint Mary's softball field, to get the Belles within 9-5 of the Lady Reds.
Carthage added three more runs in the top of the sixth, but the Belles again threatened to chip away at the lead. Saint Mary's had runners in scoring position in both the sixth and seventh innings, but the rally ended for the Belles in the form of a 12-5 loss.
Morgan Bedan went 2-for-3 in game two with a double, a home run, two runs scored, and three RBIs while also being hit by a pitch. Lauren Enayati, Emily Sherwood, and Callie Selner each added two hits in four official plate appearances. Enayati scored two runs, Sherwood crossed home plate once, and Selner drove in a pair to aid the offense.
Monica Palicki shouldered the loss in the circle after being charged with seven runs in 1.1 innings. Angela Gillis came in in relief in the second inning and struck out three while allowing five runs.
The Belles (13-7) have a week away from competition and will be back in action when they host Calvin for an MIAA doubleheader on Thursday, April 5 beginning at 3:30 p.m.