Offense Erupts as Belles Sweep Brits

Game One Box Score - Game Two Box Score

• The Belles outscored Albion 21-3 with 33 hits on Friday.
• Cassie Young and Caitlyn Migawa each had three hits in game one.
• Jamie Young had three hits in game two.
• Kayla Chapman and Jillian Busfield each hit a two-run home run in game two.

ALBION, Mich. - The Saint Mary's softball team outscored Albion 21-3 with 33 hits in a conference doubleheader sweep by taking game one 10-1 and game two 11-2 in five innings.

The Belles claimed a 1-0 lead through the first half-inning of play. Jamie Young led off the game with a bunt single and stole second base. With two outs gone, Cassie Young drove in Jamie Young with a double to center field to put Saint Mary's ahead. The Brits came right back with a run in the bottom half of the inning on a single, a sacrifice bunt, a wild pitch, and sacrifice fly.

Both teams were retired in order in the second, and the Belles stranded a runner on third in the third before erupting with seven runs in the top of the fourth. Saint Mary's sent eleven batters to the plate in the third as the Belles kicked off the inning with five consecutive singles to plate a pair of runs. After one out, Jamie Young and Sarah Young posted back-to-back singles to left field to push two more runs across. Cassie Young drove in two more with a two-out single to left field, and Kayla Chapman capped off the scoring with an RBI single to right field.

Albion threatened to cut into the Belles' lead in the fourth by putting runners second and third with no outs. A line drive double play and a ground out to third put a quick stop to the Brits' offense in the fourth.

The Belles added to the lead in the top of the seventh. A lead-off walk by Chapman followed by a single up the middle by Caitlyn Migawa put a pair aboard. Morgan Raymer drove in Chapman from second with a double to right field, and Migawa came home on an illegal pitch to make it a 10-1 game. The Brits put a runner on base with a two-out single in the bottom of the seventh, but a ground out to first ended the contest.

Cassie Young went 3-for-4 in the opener with a double, three runs batted in, and a run scored. Caitlyn Migawa added a 3-for-4 effort with three singles, two runs scored, and an RBI. Jamie Young, Kayla Chapman, and Morgan Raymer each collected a pair of hits while each scoring at least once and driving in at least one run.

Morgan Raymer picked up the pitching win after five complete innings of work. The sophomore struck out three and allowed one run on two hits. Zoe Bruni closed out the final two innings and surrendered just one hit while striking out a pair.

The Belles struck first in game two with two runs in the bottom of the first. Jamie Young singled and stole second before Makenzie Duncan singled and stole second to put runners on second and third. Cassie Young drove in Jamie Young with a sacrifice fly to center field, and Kayla Chapman sent Duncan home on a double to right-center.

The Brits knotted the game in the top of the third, but the Belles deflated any hopes Albion had in staying in the game with an eight-run outburst in the bottom of the same inning. Thirteen batters stepped up to the plate for Saint Mary's in the third. Cassie Young led off with a double, and Chapman blasted a home run to regain the lead for good for the Belles. Migawa then singled down the left field line, and Jillian Busfield struck with a two-run home run to double the lead. Morgan Raymer, Kelsey Richards, and Jamie Young all added singles, and Migawa posted a double later in the inning as Saint Mary's went ahead 10-2 through three complete.

In the bottom of the fourth, Richards hit a one-out single up the middle and Sarah Callis singled to third to put a pair on base. Makenzie Duncan then drove in Richards from second with a single through the right side. The Belles then made quick work of the Brits with a three-up, three-down fifth inning to end the game.

Jamie Young went 3-for-4 in game two with two runs scored. Sarah Callis, Makenzie Duncan, Kayla Chapman, Caitlyn Migawa, Morgan Raymer, and Kelsey Richards all recorded two hits. Chapman hit her ninth career home run, and Jillian Busfield added her 28th career home run in the win.

Sarah Burke went four complete innings and picked up the win while striking out three. Jessica Alberts closed out the final inning of play and faced the minimum with a fly out and a pair of ground outs to end the game.

The Belles (17-12, 7-3 MIAA) travel to Hope tomorrow for a 1:00 p.m. conference doubleheader against the Flying Dutch.