Belles Stymied by Spartans

Game One Box Score - Game Two Box Score

  • Jamie Young blasted a solo home run in game one while collecting two hits, an RBI, and three runs scored.
  • Cassie Young drove in a pair with a triple in the opener.
  • Caitlyn Migawa went 3-for-3 in game two with three runs batted in during game two.
  • Kayla Chapman added a pair of hits and a sacrifice fly while scoring once.

CHICAGO, Ill. - The Saint Mary's softball team lost both ends of a doubleheader against Aurora by matching 7-5 scores at the Chicago Bandits Stadium on Tuesday evening.

The Belles established a 3-0 lead through the first two innings of game one. Jamie Young led off the game with a single up the middle, and Eliese Hornberger drew a walk before the pair advanced on a passed ball. Two batters later, Cassie Young drove both runners in with a triple to center field for the early 2-0 lead. In the second inning, Jamie Young blasted a home run over the left field fence to make it 3-0 in favor of the Belles.

The score remained 3-0 until the fifth inning. Jamie Young reached on an error and moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by Hornberger. A single to right field by Makenzie Duncan led to an error which allowed Young to score to give the Belles a 4-0 advantage.

The Spartans, however, knotted the game up at 4-4 half an inning later. An error loaded the bases for Aurora with just one out, and three consecutive singles with two outs led to four unearned runs while tying the score.

The Belles quickly regained the lead in the top of the sixth inning. Morgan Raymer had a lead off single, and Krystal Harris came in to pinch run and stole second to get into scoring position. A double to right field by Caitlyn Migawa put Harris on third, and a walk by Kayla Raymer loaded the bases. Jamie Young hit a strong come-back ball to the pitcher, and the catcher dropped the force out throw at the plate to allow Harris to score the go-ahead run for the Belles.

The Saint Mary's defense got out of a jam in the bottom of the sixth by forcing the Spartans into stranding a runner on third. Aurora, however, put their first two batters on base in the bottom of the seventh, and a one-out three-run home run to left field ended the game by the 7-5 final score.

Jamie Young blasted a solo home run in game one while collecting two hits, an RBI, and three runs scored to lead the Belles. Cassie Young drove in a pair with a triple, and Eliese Hornberger and Krystal Harris each scored once. Mary Green shouldered the loss after surrendering the game-ending home run in the seventh. Morgan Raymer had a no decision after 5.1 innings of work and zero earned runs with four strikeouts.

In game two, the Belles again came out ready to play as Saint Mary's pushed three runs across in the top of the first inning. Hornberger singled to third base, Duncan drew a walk, and Cassie Young singled to load the bases. Kayla Chapman had a sacrifice fly to right field to plate Hornberger, and Caitlyn Migawa drove a single into center field to score Duncan and Young easily for the 3-0 lead.

That lead was quickly erased by Aurora in the bottom half of the inning. The Spartans sent nine batters to the plate and scored five earned runs on five hits and a walk to go up 5-3 through one complete.

The Belles continued to battle and chipped away at the deficit. In the top of the third, Cassie Young made the Spartans pay after getting hit with a pitch with two outs. Chapman collected a hit to second base, and Migawa drove in Young with a single to the 5-6 hole. Saint Mary's then drew even with Aurora in the top of the fifth inning. Chapman started a two-out rally with a single to right, and Migawa followed suit with a hit in the same direction. Kayla Raymer battled her way through an 11-pitch at bat by singling up the middle just past the Aurora pitcher to drive in Chapman.

The defense again held the Spartans at bay in the bottom of the fifth after Aurora had two runners in scoring position. In the bottom of the sixth, however, the Spartans got the difference maker in the form of a two-run home run to regain the lead late. The Belles were unable to generate any offense in the top of the seventh as Aurora claimed the 7-5 game two decision.

Caitlyn Migawa went 3-for-3 in game two with three runs batted in for Saint Mary's. Kayla Chapman added a pair of hits and a sacrifice fly while scoring once. Cassie Young scored twice, and Hornberger and Makenzie Duncan each came across home once. Sarah Burke was tallied for five earned runs in two-thirds of an inning before being replaced by Jessica Alberts in the circle. Burke had the no decision as the Spartans had a late-inning home run to break a 5-5 tie. Alberts went 5.1 innings and allowed two earned runs and struck out two.

The Belles (8-7) are back in action on Thursday when they host Dominican at 3:30 p.m. at the Saint Joseph High School North Field Complex near Saint Patrick's County Park.

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