Belles Blast Past Spartans With Eight Home Runs
Game One Box Score - Game Two Box Score
NORTH MANCHESTER, Ind. - Jillian Busfield and Callie Selner hit back-to-back home runs three different times over the course of the Saint Mary's softball team's 7-3 and 10-6 wins over Manchester on Monday afternoon.
Jillian Busfield and Callie Selner
combined to hit six home runs
against Manchester.The Belles jumped on the scoreboard right away in the top of the first inning. Caitlyn Migawa and Cecily Reyes drew two-out walks, and Jillian Busfield and Callie Selner blasted back-to-back home runs to spot a 4-0 Saint Mary's lead. The offense was not done yet, however. Angela Dainelli kept the inning alive after reaching first on an error. Jackie Martinez laced a single to left field, and an error by the left fielder on the play allowed Dainelli to score from first to give the Belles a 5-0 advantage through the first half inning of play.
The Spartans plated a run in the bottom of the first with a pair of singles, a stolen base, and a sacrifice fly. The Belles came back in the top of the second with a run of their own with a solo home run by Sarah Callis - the first of her collegiate career - to go ahead 6-1.
The Belles posted their seventh run of the game in the top of the fourth inning. Callis hit a one-out single to left field, and Migawa added a single of her own to put a pair of runners aboard. Callis then scored from second base on an error by the Spartans' shortstop.
Manchester threatened to do some damage to the Belles' lead in the bottom of the sixth. After a lead-off triple followed by a single plated a run, the Spartans loaded the bases with no outs. Callie Selner chalked up a strikeout looking and the Saint Mary's defense stood tall as Jillian Busfield caught a foul pop up and Sarah Callis snagged a line drive in left field to end the inning.
The Spartans added an unearned run on a two-out error in the bottom of the seventh, but an infield ground out ended the game as the Belles took game one by a 7-3 final.
Callie Selner earned the pitching win after throwing all seven innings and allowing two earned runs with seven strikeouts. Selner helped lead the offense with a 3-for-3 effort at the plate with a solo home run. Sarah Callis was 2-for-4 at the dish with a home run, two runs scored, and an RBI. Jillian Busfield added a three-run home run.
The Belles started off game two in similar fashion to their game one performance. Sarah Callis and Victoria Connelly started off the game with back-to-back walks, Caitlyn Migawa and Cecily Reyes added back-to-back singles, and Jillian Busfield and Callie Selner blasted back-to-back home runs to get Saint Mary's off to a quick 6-0 lead.
Manchester pushed a pair of runs across in the bottom of the first on four hits and a sacrifice fly. The Spartans had runners on the corners with two outs, but Angela Dainelli ran down a pop up along the right field line to end the inning.
The Spartans made it a 6-3 game after three complete after scoring a run with two outs in the bottom of the third inning on a single to the outfield.
Saint Mary's responded in the top of the fourth inning. Victoria Connelly hit a double to right-center field and scored on a single to center field by Caitlyn Migwawa.
Manchester continued to trade punches with Saint Mary's by scoring a run in the bottom of the fourth on a one-out single up the middle.
The Belles countered with a run in the top of the fifth inning when Angela Dainelli hit a solo home run to left center field for her second home run in as many doubleheaders.
The Spartans added two more runs in the bottom of the fifth to make it a 8-6 game, but Busfield and Selner posted back-to-back home runs for the third time in the top of the sixth inning to squelch any ideas of a Manchester comeback.
The Belles' defense retired the Spartan offense in order in the sixth and seventh innings to claim the 10-6 victory.
Sarah Burke picked up the win after going 4.1 innings with a strikeout. Callie Selner came in and preserved the lead to claim the save after allowing one hit after closing out the final 2.2 innings.
Jillian Busfield and Callie Selner each went 2-for-3 in game two with two home runs and a walk. Busfield had four runs batted in while Selner had a pair of RBIs. Caitlyn Migawa added a 3-for-4 effort with three RBIs and a run scored. Angela Dainelli belted her second home run of the season.
The Belles (15-13, 5-7 MIAA) return home to host Trine for a conference doubleheader on Wednesday, April 23 starting at 3:30 p.m.