Belles Sweep Comets

Game One Box Score - Game Two Box Score

• Each hitter in the Belles' starting lineup had at least one hit in the game one victory.
• Morgan Raymer picked up the pitching win in the circle after going six complete innings with one earned run, two walks, and seven strikeouts.
• Jillian Busfield went 3-for-3 in game two with three singles, a run scored, and an RBI.
• Kayla Chapman added a 2-for-2 effort with a pair of runs driven in for the Belles.

OLIVET, Mich. - The Saint Mary's softball team outscored Olivet by 12 runs en route to a conference sweep on Saturday afternoon.

The Belles took a 1-0 lead through the first half-inning of game one. Jamie Young led off the game with a single up the middle, Sarah Callis belted a double to left field, Makenzie Duncan was hit by a pitch, and Cassie Young drove in Jamie Young with a sacrifice fly to center field.

The Comets manufactured a run of their own in the bottom half of the inning, but the Belles kept the offense coming to regain the lead in the second. Morgan Raymer and Kayla Raymer hit back-to-back one-out singles, and Jamie Young drew a walk to load the bases. Sarah Callis drove in Morgan Raymer with a sacrifice fly to center field, and Makenzie Duncan pushed Kayla Raymer in with a single up the middle to put Saint Mary's ahead 3-1.

Olivet loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the second, but Morgan Raymer chalked up a strikeout to end the inning. Caitlyn Migawa drew a one-out walk in the top of the third after fouling off three consecutive pitches, and Jillian Busfield needed just one pitch and one swing to give the Belles a 5-1 advantage heading into the bottom of the third. A big double play on defense in the third helped get the Belles back up to bat quickly as Saint Mary's continued to make Olivet pay for walks in the top of the fourth. Callis earned the free pass to first with one out. Two batters later, Cassie Young dropped down a bunt single to put runners on the corners before stealing second to get two Belles into scoring position. Kayla Chapman delivered a two-out double to left-center field to make it a 7-1 game in favor of the Belles.

Some timely strikeouts by Morgan Raymer paired with key defensive plays led to the Comets stranding runners on second in both the fifth and sixth innings of play. The Belles added to their lead in the top of the seventh inning. Migawa laced a lead-off single into left field, and Morgan Raymer picked up her second hit of the game with a single through the left side. An error moved the runners up 60 feet, and Jamie Young doubled down the left field line to score two more runs for a 9-1 Saint Mary's lead.

The Comets had back-to-back two-out doubles in the bottom of the seventh, but an infield ground out ended the hopes of a rally by Olivet while securing the 9-2 win for the Belles.

Each hitter in the Belles' starting lineup had at least one hit in the game one victory. Jamie Young, Cassie Young, and Morgan Raymer each posted a pair of hits. Jamie Young had two RBIs and a double. Kayla Chapman drove in a pair with a double, and Jillian Busfield also posted a pair of RBIs with her 26th career home run.

Morgan Raymer picked up the pitching win in the circle after going six complete innings with one earned run, two walks, and seven strikeouts. Mary Green closed out the win by throwing the final inning and surrendering one run on two hits.

Game two saw the Belles pick up right where they had left off in game one. A three-up, three-down start by Olivet put Saint Mary's up to bat quickly. Jamie Young collected another lead-off hit and moved to second on an error by the left fielder on the play. A sacrifice bunt by Callis put Young on third, and a ground out by Duncan plated Young for the first run of the game.

The Comets put two aboard on a pair of walks in the second, but a pop up to second base and a foul pop up to third ended the threat. Saint Mary's extended the lead two innings later in the bottom of the third. The Belles sent nine batters to the plate and collected four hits and a walk while scoring three runs. Jamie Young and Sarah Callis both hit singles to start the inning. Jamie Young then scored on a bunt by Cassie Young, and Kayla Chapman drove Callis and Cassie Young in on a one-out double down the left field line.

Olivet scored their lone run of the game in the top of the fifth inning on a two-out home run to center field, but Saint Mary's quickly regained all of the momentum in the bottom half of the inning. Cassie Young singled to center field and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Chapman. Two batters later, Busfield drove in Young with a single through the left side. Morgan Raymer then laced a double to left field to plate Busfield to push the lead to 6-1.

That lead was more than enough for the Belles' pitching corps as Raymer and Jessica Alberts closed out the final innings for the 6-1 win.

Jillian Busfield went 3-for-3 in game two with three singles, a run scored, and an RBI. Kayla Chapman added a 2-for-2 effort with a pair of runs driven in for the Belles. Morgan Raymer was walked twice and hit a double. Jamie Young and Sarah Callis each posted two hits while scoring a combined three times in the win.

Sarah Burke allowed no hits over the opening four innings of play while surrendering four walks and striking out three. Morgan Raymer gave up the only run of game two while going two innings with three strikeouts. Jessica Alberts threw the final inning and had a three-up, three-down effort which included a strikeout.

The Belles (14-11, 4-2 MIAA) host Calvin on Monday, April 18 at the Saint Joseph High School North Field Complex beginning at 3:30 p.m.