Belles Stopped by Flying Dutch

Game One Box Score - Game Two Box Score

HOLLAND, Mich. - The Saint Mary's softball team lost both ends of an MIAA doubleheader at Hope on Wednesday by 3-0 and 9-2 scores.

The Belles' bats were stifled in the opener as Kayla Chapman collected the lone Saint Mary's hit in the top of the first inning.

The Flying Dutch plated a run on a solo home run in the bottom of the second, pushed a run across on a bunt in the fourth inning, and added an unearned run in the fifth for the 3-0 decision.

Callie Selner suffered the loss after surrendering two earned runs on nine hits with four strikeouts. Kayla Chapman singled up the middle in her first at bat, Moranda Hegedus drew a walk and reached first on an error, and Callie Selner was hit by a pitch to account for the Belles' only base runners in the game.

In game two, the Flying Dutch jumped out to an early lead with four runs in the top of the first inning and another run in the second for a 5-0 advantage.

Saint Mary's got one of those runs back in the bottom of the second inning. Jillian Busfield led the inning off with a single and moved up to second on a passed ball with two outs. Sarah Callis tagged a single through the left side to put runners on the corners, and Victoria Connelly drove in Busfield with a single up the middle.

The Belles got out of a pair of jams in the third and fourth innings. Hope had runners on second and third with just one out, but both times Sarah Burke and the Saint Mary's defense came up with a pop up and a strike out to escape unscathed.

The Flying Dutch, however, put four runs on the scoreboard in the top of of the sixth to take the 9-1 lead.

With the possibility of the eight-run rule going into effect and ending the game, the Belles needed at least one run in the bottom of the sixth to keep the game alive. Down to their last out, Saint Mary's put together a two-out rally to get a run and keep the game going. Victoria Connelly drew a walk, Moranda Hegedus had an infield single, and Cecily Reyes drove in Connelly from second in a pinch hitting appearance to make it a 9-2 game.

The Belles were unable to cut further into the Hope lead in the bottom of the seventh as the Flying Dutch secured the 9-2 decision.

Sarah Burke shouldered the loss in the circle after going five and two-thirds innings and striking out seven.

Victoria Connelly was 2-for-2 at the plate with an RBI and a run scored. Caitlyn Migawa added a 3-for-4 effort, and Jillian Busfield went 2-for-4 while scoring a run.

The Belles (10-8, 2-2 MIAA) travel to Olivet for a 1:00 p.m. MIAA doubleheader against the Comets on Saturday, April 12.