Belles Take Game Two to Split with Spartans

Game One Box Score - Game Two Box Score

• Kelsey Richards led the Belles with two hits and scored a run in game one.
• Alison Alberts, Kelsey Keilman, Caitlyn Migawa, and Richards each added a pair of hits in the win.
• Mary Green earned the relief win after going three innings in the circle and did not allow an earned run.

NOTRE DAME, Ind. - The Saint Mary's softball team bounced back from a heartbreaking 4-3 loss in game one with a comeback 7-6 win in game two against Aurora on Tuesday afternoon.

The Belles took a 2-0 lead through two complete in the opener. Zoe Bruni drew a one-out walk, Kelsey Richards beat out a bunt for a single, and Alyssa Gutierrez drew a walk to load the bases. Jill Ackermann was hit by a pitch to bring Bruni in from third. Jamie Young then doubled the lead with a sacrifice fly to right field for the 2-0 advantage.

The Spartans put all of their runs on the scoreboard in the top of the fourth inning. The lead-off batter was hit by a pitch, and a hit and error put runners at the corners for Aurora with no one out. An infield single hit to the 5-6 hole plated the first run. A bobbled throw which would have led to the second out loaded the bases, and the Spartans used a sacrifice fly to center field to tie the game. The next batter for Aurora hit a double down the left field line to plate two more runs for the 4-2 Spartan lead.

The Belles stranded runners in both the fourth and fifth innings before seeing a runner cut down between third and home in the sixth inning. Saint Mary's was far from done, however, as the Belles put together a two-out rally in the bottom of the seventh. Jamie Young reached on a dropped fly ball by the Aurora right fielder, and Cassie Young got on board with a fielder's choice for runners on first and second with two outs. Morgan Raymer drew a walk to load the bases, and Kelsey Keilman came in to pinch run. Jamie Young then scored on a passed ball while Cassie Young and Kielman each advanced a base to put the game-winning run on second. Makenzie Duncan then hit a curving fly ball toward center field, which was ruled to have been caught by a falling center fielder for the Spartans to end the game.

Kelsey Richards led the Belles with two hits and scored a run. Morgan Raymer and Caitlyn Migawa each added a hit, and Zoe Bruni and Jamie Young each scored a run. Raymer went the distance in the circle, scattering six hits while allowing three earned runs and striking out two.

The Spartans carried over the momentum from game one into game two by scoring two runs in the top of the first and one in the second for a quick 3-0 lead. The Belles got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth. Makenzie Duncan, Caitlyn Migawa, and Emma Conroy hit three consecutive two-out singles to cut the deficit to 3-1.

Aurora responded with two runs - one earned and one unearned - in the top of the fifth to push their lead to 5-1. Again, Saint Mary's plated a run to keep within striking distance in the bottom half of the inning. Alison Alberts punched a single into right field and moved all the way to third on a sharply-hit single off the first baseman's glove by Kelsey Keilman. Keilman then stole second, and the throw was both late and errant, which allowed Alberts to score on the play. Keilman would make it all the way to third, but she was stranded there to end the inning.

The Spartans plated another unearned run in the top of the sixth, but the Belles were far from finished. With their backs against the wall, Saint Mary's put together a big two-out rally in the bottom of the sixth. Emma Conroy reach on an error, and Kelsey Richards hit a rocket up the third-base line for an infield single. Alberts added her second hit in as many innings to load the bases. Kelsey Keilman delivered a huge two-strike single through the right side of the defense to plate both Conroy and Richards to make it a 6-4 score. Jamie Young walked on four pitches to load the bases yet again, and Cassie Young drew a seven-pitch, full-count walk to push in Alberts to cut the deficit to just one run. Morgan Raymer then delivered a 1-2 single to center field to plate both Keilman and Jamie Young to give the Belles the 7-6 lead.

The Spartans led off the top of the seventh with a single up the middle, but a strikeout, ground out, and fly out secured the 7-6 win for the Belles.

Alison Alberts was 2-for-2 with two runs scored, and Kelsey Keilman went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored. Caitlyn Migawa and Kelsey Richards each added a pair of hits in the win. Cassie Young, Morgan Raymer, and Emma Conroy chipped in a hit and each drove in at least one run. Mary Green earned the relief win after going three innings in the circle and did not allow an earned run. Jessica Alberts had a no decision in four-plus innings of work on the afternoon.

The Belles (5-7) travel to Wheaton for a doubleheader against the Thunder on Friday, March 24. Game one begins at 3:00 p.m. CDT.