Belles Battle Past Brits for Sweep

Game One Box Score - Game Two Box Score

• Cassie Young and Kelsey Keilman each had five hits in the two games combined on Sunday.
• Morgan Raymer earned her 10th pitching win of the season after going three complete innings in the circle in game one.
• Jessica Alberts picked up the pitching win in the circle after going six complete innings and surrendering just one hit on four hits while striking out five in game two.

NOTRE DAME, Ind. - Off to the best conference start in program history, the Saint Mary's softball team led from start to finish in a 9-1 (5 innings) game one win before coming back to take game two 5-1 against Albion on Sunday.

The Belles plated three runs in the bottom of the first inning and did so in an efficient manner. Jamie Young hit a lead-off single to left and advanced to second on a fielding error by the Brits' outfielder. Kelsey Keilman singled to center field to plate Young while advancing to second on the throw to the plate. Cassie Young then drove in Keilman with a double to left-center field. Young then stole third a batter later, and Makenzie Duncan drove her in on a sacrifice fly to right field. Caitlyn Migawa had a two-out double to right, and Kelsey Richards singled to center, but the pair were stranded on base with the Belles leading 3-0 through one complete.

The second inning started in much the same way as the first. Jamie Young and Kelsey Keilman each singled, and Cassie Young drove in the pair with a double to left field to extend the Belles' lead to 5-0. Two innings later, Cassie Young posted a two-out triple to center field and scored on a throwing error by the shortstop, which allowed Morgan Raymer to reach safely while extending the inning. Makenzie Duncan then delivered a triple - the 13th of her career - to plate Raymer for the 7-0 Saint Mary's lead.

The Brits broke the Belles' streak of scoreless defensive innings at 40 with a run in the top of the fifth inning. Saint Mary's capitalized on consecutive errors in the bottom half of the inning as Kelsey Richards and Zoe Bruni each reached on broken plays. Jamie Young ended the game with a one-out double to push both runs across while lifting the Belles to the 9-1 win.

Morgan Raymer earned her 10th pitching win of the season after going three complete innings in the circle. The junior struck out four and surrendered just two hits while facing 12 batters. Zoe Bruni came on in relief and struck out three over two innings of work.

Cassie Young was 3-for-3 with two doubles and a triple in game one. She added three runs batted in and scored twice. Jamie Young added a 3-for-4 effort with a double, two RBI, and two runs scored. Kelsey Keilman was 2-for-3 in the opener with two runs scored and an RBI. Makenzie Duncan drove in two runs while belting a triple.

In the nightcap, the Brits got on the scoreboard early with a solo home run in the bottom of the first inning for a quick lead. Saint Mary's put runners on base in each of the first five innings of play but were unable to find the equalizing score until late in the contest.

The Belles broke through in the top of the sixth with a three-run outburst. Kelsey Keilman led off the inning with a bunt single, and Cassie Young delivered her second triple of the day to knot the game at 1-1. Morgan Raymer punched a single through the left side of the defense and into the outfield, allowing Young to score easily from third while giving the Belles their first lead of the game. Makenzie Duncan added a double to left-center to put two runners into scoring position. Krystal Harris came in to pinch run for Raymer, and a fielder's choice turned into run down for Duncan between second and third allowed Harris to score for the 3-1 lead for the Belles.

Saint Mary's forced Albion into stranding a runner at third in the bottom half of the inning, and the offense picked right back up in the top of the seventh for the Belles. Alyssa Gutierrez laced a lead-off single to right field, and Jamie Young followed suit by dropping a single into center field to put a pair aboard. Kelsey Keilman loaded the bases with a bunt single, and Cassie Young drove in both Gutierrez and Jamie Young with a single to left field.

The Belles made quick work of the Brits in the bottom of the seventh. Kelsey Richards tracked down a deep pop up into right field for the first out, and Morgan Raymer closed out the game with back-to-back strikeouts to secure the 5-1 win.

Jessica Alberts picked up the pitching win in the circle after going six complete innings and surrendering just one hit on four hits while striking out five. Raymer had a three-up, three-down relief appearance in the seventh.

Keilman led the way in game two with a 3-for-4 performance at the plate and scoring once. Cassie Young was 2-for-3 with a triple, a run scored, and three RBI. Alyssa Gutierrez was 2-for-2 with a walk and scored a run.

The Belles (16-8, 8-0 MIAA) travel to Adrian on Wednesday, April 12 for a 3:30 p.m. conference doubleheader against the Bulldogs.