Belles Swept by Thunder

Game One Box Score - Game Two Box Score

WHEATON, Ill. - The Saint Mary's softball team lost both ends of a non-conference doubleheader against Wheaton on Thursday evening. The Thunder claimed the opening game by a 9-1 score in five innings before edging out the Belles 4-3 in the nightcap.

Sarah Callis helped pace the
Belles offense on Thursday.In game one, Wheaton broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the second inning with a six-run outburst. The Thunder added another run in the bottom of the third inning for the 7-0 advantage through three complete.

The Belles were able get on the scoreboard in the top of the fifth inning. Victoria Connelly led off the inning with a walk and moved into scoring position on a ground out by Makenzie Duncan. Sarah Callis laced a single to left field to move Connelly to third. Callis then stole second, and Connelly scored on a botched play on the steal by the Thunder shortstop.

Wheaton, however, plated a pair in the bottom half of the inning to end the game by the eight-run rule with a 9-1 final score.

Victoria Connelly scored the team's lone run in game one. Sarah Callis and Kayla Raymer each had a single for the Belles. Sarah Burke suffered the loss in the circle after allowing six earned runs while striking out three. Jessica Alberts came on in relief in the second inning and surrendered a pair of earned runs while striking out one.

In game two, the Belles threatened to jump ahead in their first at-bats. An error, a single, and a walk put Sarah Callis, Jamie Young, and Kayla Raymer all aboard with no outs. But a strikeout and a pair of fielders choices saw the Belles come up empty-handed to open the game.

Saint Mary's kept the Thunder at bay in the bottom of the inning before picking up where they had left off in the top of the second. Morgan Raymer drew a walk, and Angela Dainelli reached on an error. Makenzie Duncan drove home Raymer with a double to center field to keep the threat going while giving the Belles the early lead. A single to right field by Sarah Callis plated Dainelli, and Jamie Young drove in Duncan with a sacrifice fly to center field to put Saint Mary's ahead 3-0.

The lead, however, was short-lived for the Belles. The Thunder scored three runs on a pair of singles, a hit batter, and a triple to knot the game at 3-3.

Saint Mary's put a runner in scoring position with two outs in both the fourth and fifth inning, but Belles were unable to capitalize on the opportunities. The Thunder, meanwhile, plated an unearned run after a pair of errors by the Belles to go ahead 4-3 in the fourth.

Over the final two innings, the Belles were able to get just one runner aboard on an error. The comeback effort fell short as Saint Mary's was unable to stage a late rally.

Sarah Callis, Jamie Young, and Caitlyn Migawa each had a pair of hits in game two. Callis and Young each drove in a run. Makenzie Duncan had an RBI double and scored a run. Morgan Raymer shouldered the loss in the circle in a complete-game effort after allowing three earned runs and striking out seven with no walks.

The Belles (8-4) are back in action on Saturday, March 28 when they travel to North Central for a non-league twinbill against the Cardinals.