Belles Pick Up Sweep Against Bulldogs

Game One Box Score - Game Two Box Score

• Morgan Raymer picked up both pitching wins on the day.
• The Belles scored 12 runs in the top of the fourth in their game one win.
• Five players had multiple hits in at least one game.

ADRIAN, Mich. - The Saint Mary's softball team picked up a 12-0 (5 innings) win in game one before posting four unanswered runs in a 4-1 game two victory over Adrian on Wednesday evening.

In the opener, the Bulldogs threatened in the bottom of the first inning by putting a runner on third with two outs. A fly out to Kelsey Keilman in left field ended the inning. The score remained deadlocked at 0-0 until the top of the fourth inning.

In the top of the fourth, the Belles sent 17 batters to the plate en route to scoring 12 runs to break the game wide open. Each batter reached base safely at least once in the frame, and Makenzie Duncan, Caitlyn Migawa, and Alyssa Gutierrez each collected two hits apiece. Morgan Raymer, Duncan, and Migawa each scored a pair of runs, and eight of the 12 runs were scored with less than two outs.

Morgan Raymer picked up the pitching win after going four shutout innings while surrendering just two hits and striking out four. Zoe Bruni closed out the win with two strikeouts and one hit allowed in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Caitlyn Migawa was 2-for-3 with a double, two RBI, and two runs scored in the opener. Alyssa Gutierrez added a 2-for-3 effort with a run scored and two RBI. Makenzie Duncan went 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored. Every hitter in the Belles' starting lineup had at least one hit.

In game two, the Bulldogs struck first with a one-out solo home run in the top of the second inning.

After threatening to equalize in the bottom half of the inning, Saint Mary's broke through in the bottom of the third. Jamie Young hit a one-out single to center field, and Cassie Young had a sharply-hit single to shortstop to put runners at first and second. Morgan Raymer was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Makenzie Duncan came through with a two-out single up the middle to drive in both Youngs while giving the Belles a 2-1 lead.

The defense came up with back-to-back three up, three down innings in the fourth and fifth as the Saint Mary's carried that same 2-1 lead late into the contest. In the top of the sixth, Adrian put together another strong scoring opportunity. Consecutive one-out singles up the middle put runners on first and second for the Bulldogs. Morgan Raymer drew an infield pop up to Caitlyn Migawa to give the Belles two outs. Jamie Young then fielded a grounder to her left and threw out the runner by more than a step at first to end the inning.

In the bottom half of the frame, Migawa hit a lead-off single to right field. Two batters later, Krystal Harris reached first on an error to put a pair of runners aboard. Alyssa Gutierrez loaded the bases on a fielder's choice which saw the an error find all the runners advance safely. Jamie Young drove in Migawa on a double to center field. After an out on the same play, Gutierrez scored on a wild pitch on Kelsey Keilman's at bat to give the Belles a 4-1 advantage going into the top of the seventh. Saint Mary's closed out the victory with a three-up, three-down inning on defense while securing the sweep.

Raymer went the distance in the circle, surrendering just one run on six hits and striking out four for her 12th pitching win of the year. Jamie Young went 3-for-4 in game two with a double, an RBI, and scored a run. Cassie Young added a 2-for-3 effort with a run. Makenzie Duncan drove in a pair with a single.

The Belles (18-8, 10-0 MIAA) host Alma on Saturday for a conference doubleheader starting at 2:00 p.m.