Belles Swept by Vikings

Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score

CHICAGO, Ill. - The Saint Mary's softball team fell in both ends of a doubleheader against North Park University by 1-0 and 6-3 scores on Sunday.

The Belles threatened in the top of the first after Victoria Connelly and Morgan Bedan both notched singles and moved into scoring position with just one out gone in the inning. A flyout and a pop up later left Saint Mary's empty-handed in the first.

The Vikings looked ready to break through in the bottom of the second inning as North Park had bases loaded with just one out gone. Callie Selner and the Belles defense closed the door on the threat with an infield fly and a strikeout looking to end the inning.

North Park did strike in the bottom of the third with a lead off double, a sacrifice bunt, an a sacrifice fly to take the 1-0 lead.

Saint Mary's had a difficult time trying to get the offense going in the opener as the Belles registered a lone single in both the fourth and fifth before being retired in order in the sixth and seventh.

Victoria Connelly, Morgan Bedan, Callie Selner, and Ashley Watkins all notched singles in the game for Saint Mary's.

Callie Selner suffered the tough loss in the circle after allowing just one earned run on five hits and two walks with five strikeouts.

North Park plated a run in the bottom of the second inning on a single and a triple to take the early lead in game two.

The Belles responded two innings later with three runs in to top of the fourth. Morgan Bedan drew a walk, and Callie Selner and Jillian Busfield had back-to-back singles to load the bases with no outs. Kayla Chapman plated Bedan on a sacrifice fly to right field, and Sarah Callis delivered a two-RBI single to center field to give the Belles the 3-1 advantage.

The Vikings pushed three across in the bottom half of the fourth to regain the lead on a home run, four singles, and an error.

Saint Mary's had the tying run on third in Jillian Busfield after the freshman singled, moved up on a ground out, and took third on a wild pitch, but the Belles were unable to knot things up.

North Park added a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the sixth, and Saint Mary's was unable to threaten in their final at bats as the Vikings took game two 6-3.

Jillian Busfield went 2-for-3 in game two with two singles while scoring a run. Morgan Bedan, Callie Selner, Kayla Chapman, Sarah Callis, and Angela Dainelli all added hits for Saint Mary's.

Sarah Burke shouldered the loss in game two after surrendering four runs, three of which were earned, on six hits with three strikeouts in 3.2 innings pitched.

The Belles (10-10) return to MIAA play on Wednesday when they host Hope for a conference twinbill beginning at 3:30 p.m.