Belles Shut Down by Thunder

Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score

ANGOLA, Ind. - The Saint Mary's softball team fell 4-0 and 22-2 (5 innings) to fourth-ranked Trine on Friday night in a conference doubleheader.

Game one remained scoreless and hitless for both sides until the bottom of the third inning when the host Thunder broke through with two runs. With two outs gone, Trine had back-to-back walks after their leadoff hitter reached on an error to load the bases. A two-out, two-RBI single later, and the Thunder had a 2-0 lead.

Trine added two more runs in the bottom of the fourth on a triple, a groundout, a pair of singles, and a stolen base to double their lead.

The last time the Belles were no-hit in MIAA play came ten years ago to the day as Alma's Melissa Tavidian had a no-hitter on April 26, 2003.

Callie Selner had a strong outing in the circle against the fourth-ranked Thunder as the junior allowed just two earned runs on four hits with two walks and five strikeouts.

The Thunder plated three runs in the first, three in the second, and six in the fourth to jump out to a 12-0 lead through the first three-and-a-half innings of play.

An inning after Angela Dainelli picked up the Belles' first hit of the day with a double, Saint Mary's was able to break through in dramatic fashion in the bottom of the fourth. Morgan Bedan laced a lead off single for the Belles. Two batters later, Jillian Busfield set the single season school home run with her 11th blast of the season to get Saint Mary's on the scoreboard.

The 11 home runs in a season moves the freshman ahead of Ashley Peterson's single-season mark of 10 set in 2010. Not only was the home run Busfield's 11th of the year, but it was also her eighth in MIAA play, which ties the conference single season record of eight set by the Belles' Ashley Peterson in 2010.

The momentum for the Belles was short-lived as the Thunder responded with a 10-run fifth before retiring Saint Mary's in order in the fifth to end the game.

Jillian Busfield was 1-for-2 with her two-run home run. Morgan Bedan, Sarah Callis, and Angela Dainelli all added 1-for-2 efforts at the dish as Dainelli notched a double for the Belles.

Sarah Burke suffered the loss in the circle after going all five innings.

The Belles (19-15, 9-5 MIAA) close out the regular season and look to earn a spot in the MIAA Tournament when they travel to Alma for a conference doubleheader beginning at 2:00 p.m.