Belles Split with Knights

Game One Box Score - Game Two Box Score

• Cassie Young led the offense in game one with a 3-for-3 effort, which included a double and a run scored.
• Caitlyn Migawa added a pair of hits with an RBI.
• Morgan Raymer had the complete game shutout victory in the circle with three strikeouts and one walk.
• Jillian Busfield blasted her school record-leading 27th career home run in game two.

SOUTH BEND, Ind. - The Saint Mary's softball team picked up a 4-0 win in game one before falling 6-4 in game two in a conference doubleheader against Calvin on Monday evening.

Game one saw the two teams combine to put just one runner in scoring position prior to the sixth inning. In the top of the sixth, the Knights loaded the bases with just one out to put pressure on the Saint Mary's defense. The Belles were more than up to the challenge as Morgan Raymer drew a shallow fly out to left field before Jamie Young came up with a clean play on a grounder to end the inning without allowing a run.

The Belles used that big stop on defense to help jump start the offense in the bottom half of the inning. Jamie Young led off with a single to center field before stealing second to get into scoring position. Sarah Callis put down a sacrifice bunt, which resulted in a throwing error by the Knights' third baseman to allow Young to score. Makenzie Duncan successfully sacrificed her at bat to move Callis into scoring position, and Cassie Young doubled to left field to put runners on second and third. Kayla Chapman drove in Callis on a would-be squeeze bunt turned fielder's choice while beating out the play at first. Caitlyn Migawa then drove in Cassie Young with a single to shallow center field to make it 3-0. Jillian Busfield rocketed a single off the end of the third baseman's glove, and Morgan Raymer punched a sacrifice fly to right field to score Krystal Harris, who had come in to pinch run for Chapman, giving the Belles the 4-0 lead going into the seventh inning.

That offense was more than enough for Morgan Raymer in the circle. The sophomore drew three consecutive ground outs to end the game and preserve the shutout.

Cassie Young led the offense in game one with a 3-for-3 effort, which included a double and a run scored. Caitlyn Migawa added a pair of hits with a run driven in, and Jamie Young picked up a stolen base and scored a run. Morgan Raymer had the complete game shutout victory in the circle with three strikeouts and one walk while helping her own cause with a sacrifice fly.

The Belles jumped on the scoreboard in the top of game two. Jamie Young and Sarah Callis hit back-to-back singles, and the pair both scored on a triple down the right field line by Makenzie Duncan. Two batters later, Duncan scored on a fielder's choice by Kayla Raymer by beating out the throw home to give Saint Mary's a quick 3-0 lead.

The Knights responded with two two-out solo home runs in the bottom of the first to make it a 3-2 score. Saint Mary's had a chance to extend the lead in the next at bats, but Morgan Raymer and Angela Dainelli were both stranded on base after hitting consecutive singles to start the second.

Calvin took over the lead in the bottom of the third inning after another solo home run and three consecutive singles plated two runs for the Knights. Saint Mary's put a runner on second in both the fourth and fifth innings, but the Belles were unable to translate the scoring chances into runs as the game moved to the bottom of the fifth. Calvin then added to their lead with a two-out two-run home run to make it a 6-3 game.

It took Jillian Busfield just one pitch to chip away at the deficit as the senior sent a solo home run over the left-center fence to make it 6-4. Raymer then singled to shortstop before moving into scoring position on a wild pitch with just one out gone. The Belles, however, were unable to advance Raymer any further in the inning before going back on defense.

The defense, meanwhile, made quick work of the Knights in the sixth inning. After a one-out single, Raymer got a come-back one-hop grounder to start an inning ending 1-6-3 double play as the Belles took some momentum into their final at bats. The rally, unfortunately, was not meant to be for Saint Mary's in the seventh as the offense was retired in order to end the game.

Morgan Raymer went 2-for-2 in game two with a pair of singles. Sarah Callis added a pair of hits and scored a run. Makenzie Duncan drove in a pair on a triple to tie the school record for triples in a season with six. Jillian Busfield blasted her school record-leading 27th career home run.

Mary Green had a no-decision in the circle after going the first 2.1 innings of the game and surrendering three runs on three hits. Sarah Burke shouldered the loss after 1.2 innings of work with one earned run and a pair of strikeouts. Morgan Raymer closed out the final 2.0 innings and was tagged for two earned runs on three hits.

The Belles (15-12, 5-3 MIAA) travel to Albion on Thursday for a 3:30 p.m. conference doubleheader against the Brits.