Belles Deny Yellow Jackets

Game One Box Score - Game Two Box Score

DEFIANCE, Ohio - The Saint Mary's softball team picked up where they left off yesterday by sweeping a doubleheader at Defiance by 4-0 and 6-2 scores.

Following yesterday's 4-0 sweep of North Park in game two, the Belles strung together two consecutive shut out victories for the first time this season.

Saint Mary's took advantage of some defensive miscues by the Yellow Jackets in the second inning for the first runs of the game in the opener. Callie Selner had a lead-off single, and Jordie Wasserman and Angela Gillis both reached safely on back-to-back errors to load the bases. After Defiance got Selner out at home on the force out and a foul pop-up out, the Belles were not quite done with two outs. Kristen Nelson singled through the right side of the Yellow Jacket defense to plate Wasserman for the game's first run. Lauren Enayati then put the ball in play and drew another error by the defense, allowing Gillis to cross home.

Defiance had a runner on third in both the fourth and fifth innings only to see Callie Selner pick up a strike out looking and draw a pop up to herself to end each threat.

In the top of the sixth, the Belles used the long ball to plate a pair of runs and double their lead. With Selner on first and one out gone, Jordie Wasserman powered her second home run of the season over the left-center field fence to give the Belles the 4-0 advantage.

The Yellow Jackets had a pair of runners in scoring position in the bottom of the seventh inning, but Selner and the Belles closed the door on the Defiance comeback for the team's second straight shutout win.

Kristen Nelson and Callie Selner both were 2-for-3 at the plate in game one. Nelson drove in a run while Selner scored a run. Morgan Bedan was 2-for-4 with a pair of singles, and Jordie Wasserman drove in a pair with her homer and scored twice. Selner scattered five hits and struck out four over seven innings of work on the way to her first shutout victory in the circle this year.

The Belles took little time getting on the scoreboard in the nightcap as they scored a run in the top of the first on three singles. Lauren Enayati started off the game with a single to shortstop. She moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by Kate Mitchell, and made it to third on a single by Morgan Bedan. Enayati then gave the Belles the 1-0 lead on a single to center field by Callie Selner.

Defiance pushed a pair of runs across in the bottom of the second inning to take a 2-1 lead. A pair of runners scored on a single and an error with two outs.

The Yellow Jackets had a short-lived lead, however, as the Belles came right back in the top of the third. Victoria Connelly drew a lead-off walk and stole second to get into scoring position. The freshman then easily scored on a single by Kristen Nelson to tie the game at 2-2. On that same single, Nelson took a pair of extra bases on an error by the right fielder to move 60 feet from scoring the go-ahead run. Two batters later, Nelson tagged up and scored on a sacrifice fly to center field by Kate Mitchell to give Saint Mary's the lead they would never relinquish.

While Defiance would be unable to get a runner into scoring position over the next five innings, the Belles' offense was not quite finished. Connelly, Nelson, and Enayati had consecutive singles to jump start the fifth inning with Connelly scoring from third on Enayati's single to right field. Morgan Bedan then drove in Nelson and Enayati on a double to center field to push the lead to 6-2. The Belles then saw a two-out rally in the sixth come up just short of some run production.

The six runs were more than enough for Monica Palicki in the circle. The senior did not allow an extra base hit, struck out three, and gave up just one earned run in seven innings on the way to the win. Lauren Enayati was 3-for-4 at the dish while scoring a pair of runs and driving in one. Victoria Connelly and Kristen Nelson both were 2-for-2 with two singles, a walk, and two runs scored while Nelson also drove in a run. Morgan Bedan had her third multi-hit effort in the last four games with a 2-for-4 effort at the plate with a double, a stolen base, and a run scored in the win.

The Belles (13-5) will host #18 Carthage for a doubleheader on Thursday, March 29 beginning at 3:30 p.m.