Belles Victorious Versus Valiants, Colonials

Manhattanville Box Score - Western Connecticut Box Score

• The Belles out-scored the opposition 14-3 in a pair of wins.
• Cassie Young went a combined 6-for-8 on the day.
• Morgan Raymer threw a one-hit shutout while Zoe Bruni earned her first collegiate pitching win.

CLERMONT, Fla. - The Saint Mary's softball team opened the 2017 campaign with a 5-0 win over #21 Manhattanville before defeating Western Connecticut by a 9-3 margin on Sunday evening.

The Belles jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the top of first inning against Manhattanville. Jamie Young had a lead-off single and moved into scoring position on a one-out single by Makenzie Duncan. The pair moved up on a double steal, and Young scored on a throwing error on the play by the Valiants' catcher. Cassie Young delivered a single to put runners on the corners, and Caitlyn Migawa drove in Duncan with a sacrifice fly to give the Belles the 2-0 lead.

Morgan Raymer retired the first 14 batters she faced in the contest as the Saint Mary's defense carried the 2-0 lead into the fifth inning. Manhattanville put a pair of runners on base after a hit batter and a walk broke up the perfect game for Raymer, but an infield ground out ended the threat.

In the top of the sixth, Cassie Young got things started with a two-out single and stole second to get into scoring position. The junior then scored from second on an error by the Valiants to put Saint Mary's up 3-0. Manhattanville took advantage of a hit batter and an error to start the bottom half of the sixth with two runners on and no outs. The Belles' defense again came up with the needed plays with a pair of outfield flyouts followed by an infield pop up to keep Raymer's no-hit bid alive.

Saint Mary's tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the top of the seventh inning. Alison Alberts drew a lead-off, pinch-hit walk before Alyssa Gutierrez beat out a bunt single. Jamie Young loaded the bases with a single of her own. Two batters later, Alberts was forced out at home on a fielder's choice to keep the bases loaded with two outs. Cassie Young delivered a double to plate both Gutierrez and Jamie Young for the 5-0 lead.

Raymer retired the first two batters she faced in the bottom of the seventh to move an out away from the no-hitter, but that milestone was not to be as the Valiants tallied a double to break up the no-no. Raymer, however, made quick work to secure the complete game shutout by drawing another flyout to end the game 5-0.

Cassie Young went 3-for-4 with two runs batted in, a stolen base, and scored a run. Jamie Young added a 2-for-4 effort with two runs, and Alyssa Gutierrez posted a 2-for-3 performance in her collegiate debut with a run scored. Morgan Raymer earned the one-hit, complete-game shutout by facing just five batters over the minimum with a walk and a strikeout in the circle.

In the second game of the night, the Colonials were the ones to get an early 2-0 lead with a home run in the top of the first. That advantage was short-lived as the Belles came right back with three runs in the bottom half of the inning. Jamie Young, Makenzie Duncan, and Cassie Young each hit a single and later scored to give the Belles a 3-2 lead through one complete.

After a three-up, three-down inning on defense, the Belles doubled their lead in the bottom of the second. Alyssa Gutierrez drew a lead-off walk and scored two batters later. Saint Mary's made it a 5-2 game in the fifth inning after Cassie Young belted a lead-off home run.

The Colonials pushed a two-out run across in the top of the sixth. The Belles quickly halted any momentum Western Connecticut hoped to gain with a four-run outburst in the bottom half of the inning. Krystal Harris, Cassie Young, and Caitlyn Migawa each registered a single before scoring. Kelsey Richards added a two-out, two-run home run to cap off the scoring for the Belles in the 9-3 win.

In the second game, Cassie Young added a second 3-for-4 performance with a home run, a run batted in, and three runs scored. Kelsey Richards added a 2-for-4 effort with a double, a home run, and four RBI. Zoe Bruni earned her first collegiate pitching victory after going six complete and striking out seven batters while allowing just two hits. Mary Green closed out the final inning and faced the minimum while striking out one.

The Belles (2-0) square off against Ohio Wesleyan and Bethel (Minnesota) at 8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. in Clermont, Florida on Monday.