Belles Bounce Back to Split in Florida Finales

Millikin Box Score - Marywood Box Score

  • Jill Ackermann tallied five hits in the two games combined to lead the Belles on Friday.
  • Jamie Young added four hits with a 3-for-3 effort against Marywood.
  • Jessica Alberts threw a one-hit, complete-game shutout with 10 strikeouts against Marywood.

CLERMONT, Fla. - The Saint Mary's softball team bounced back from a 6-0 loss against Millikin to take a commanding 11-0 (5 innings) win over Marywood to conclude their spring break trip on Friday.

The Big Blue scored a run in the top of the first, two in the third, two in the fourth, and one in the seventh while the Belles could not get the offense going in the morning game. The best scoring chances for Saint Mary's came in the third and fourth innings. In the third, Jill Ackermann hit a two-out single and moved into scoring position on a single by Jamie Young. The pair, however, were stranded at first and second after a line-out ended the inning. Makenzie Duncan led off the bottom of the fourth with a single to left field, and Cassie Young moved Duncan into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Duncan advanced 60 feet to third on an infield ground out, but the Belles were unable to push her across.

Jill Ackermann led the Belles against Millikin with a 2-for-2 effort at the dish. Jamie Young, Makenzie Duncan, and Cassie Young each added a hit. Morgan Raymer went the distance in the circle and struck out 10 while shouldering the loss in the circle.

The offense then erupted in game two for the Belles as Saint Mary's scored multiple runs in each of the first three innings of play. Ackermann led the game off with a single to center field, and Jamie Young beat out a bunt to put a pair on board. An infield out moved the pair up a base, and Ackermann scored on a passed ball. Two batters later, Duncan drove in Young with a sacrifice fly for a quick 2-0 Saint Mary's lead.

Alison Alberts, Ackermann, and Jamie Young each collected a hit in the second inning and scored as the Belles sent eight batters to the plate before extending the lead to 5-0. Saint Mary's doubled their lead in the top of the third with a five-run outburst. Alberts, Alyssa Gutierrez, Ackermann, Jamie Young, and Cassie Young each scored a run. Eight Belles safely made it on base in the inning on four hits, two walks, a fielder's choice, and an error.

Marywood had their best scoring chance of the game in the bottom of the third inning. A lead-off single was followed up by a wild pitch to put a runner on second, but Jessica Alberts closed the door with a strikeout looking, an infield line-out, and a strikeout to maintain the shutout.

The Belles added an insurance run in the top of the fifth inning. Jamie Young led the inning off with a single before stealing second. Two batters later, she scored from second on an error to make it an 11-0 game.

The run support was more than enough for Jessica Alberts in the circle. The junior threw a gem of a game en route to her first pitching victory of the season. Alberts allowed just one hit and one walk while striking out 10 to pick up the complete game shutout.

Jamie Young added a 3-for-3 performance at the plate against Marywood with four runs scored, two runs batted in, and a walk. Ackermann posted a 3-for-4 showing in the game with a double and three runs scored. Morgan Raymer, Kelsey Richards, and Alison Alberts each chipped in two hits. Raymer had two RBI, and Alberts scored twice.

The Belles (4-6) are slated to host Aurora on Tuesday, March 21 for a doubleheader beginning at 4:00 p.m.

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