Belles Swept by Third-Ranked Thunder

Game One Box Score - Game Two Box Score

NOTRE DAME, Ind. - The Saint Mary's softball team lost to NFCA No. 3 ranked Trine 10-0 (6 innings) and 7-3 at home on Wednesday evening.

The opener was all about the Thunder's pitching as Trine junior right-hander Bree Fuller tossed a six-inning perfect game against the Belles.

While the stat line may have stated otherwise, Saint Mary's had a handful of opportunities to break through for hits in the opener. Callie Selner had a rocket line drive snagged by the Thunder shortstop, Moranda Hegedus was half of a step away from beating out a bunt, Caitlyn Migawa had a line drive in the left-center gap caught, and Jillian Busfield saw a line drive stopped by the Trine third baseman.

Callie Selner set the all-time career strikeout record in game one against Trine.
Callie Selner set the all-time career
strikeout record in game one against Trine.
Callie Selner, meanwhile, became the program's all-time leader in career strikeouts after fanning a pair of Thunder batters through the first two-and-a-third innings of play. The senior right-hander had a strikeout swinging in the second inning and rung up the lead-off hitter in the third to surpass the previous record of 368 strikeouts set by Kristin Amram in 2007.

In game two, the Thunder plated a run in the first, a run in the second, and three runs in the third to claim a 5-0 lead through three complete. But the Belles did not go down without a fight against the third-ranked Thunder.

After stranding runners on the corners in the second, Saint Mary's posted a run in the top of the fourth. Cecily Reyes started the Belles off with a one-out single, and Nina Vlahiotis came in to pinch run for the junior first baseman. A walk by Jillian Busfield put runners on first and second, and Callie Selner drove in Vlahiotis from second with a solid single to the right-center gap. Kayla Chapman made it a 5-2 game with a double to left-center to score Busfield from second, but back-to-back outs left runners in scoring position and kept it a three-run game.

The Belles cut the deficit to two in the top of the fifth inning. Angela Dainelli drew a one-out walk and stole second base to get into scoring position. Caitlyn Migawa drove in Dainelli with a single. Busfield drew a two-out, full count walk to keep the inning alive, but a pop up ended the threat as two more Saint Mary's runners were left aboard.

Trine pushed their lead back to three runs in the bottom of the fifth and added to their advantage in the bottom of the sixth to pull ahead 7-3 late in the game.

Saint Mary's left nine runners on base in the game-two loss.

Sarah Burke shouldered the game-two loss after surrendering four earned runs over two-and-a-third innings of work. Callie Selner came in as a relief pitcher over the final three-and-two-thirds innings.

Jillian Busfield was 2-for-2 at the plate in game two with a pair of singles, two walks, and a run scored. Callie Selner was 2-for-4 with an RBI. Kayla Chapman added an RBI double, and Caitlyn Migawa drove in a run on her single in the game.

The Belles (15-15, 5-9 MIAA) conclude their season on Saturday, April 26 when they host Alma for a conference doubleheader beginning at 2:00 p.m. It will also be Senior Recognition Day for Callie Selner as she will be recognized between games.

Back to Stories