Belles Stopped by Sixth-Ranked Thunder

Game One Box Score - Game Two Box Score

• Jamie Young, Kelsey Keilman, and Cassie Young each registered a hit for the Belles in game one.
• Kelsey Richards was 2-for-3 with a solo home run, two RBI, and a run scored.
• Caitlyn Migawa was 3-for-3, and Jamie Young went 2-for-4.

ANGOLA, Ind. - After weather halted game one and delayed the doubleheader to Friday, the Saint Mary's softball team came up short in both games against No. 6 (NFCA Top 25 Coaches Poll) Trine by 9-1 (6 innings) and 14-5 (6 innings) scores.

As anticipated, game one opened up as a strong pitchers' duel as neither side collected a hit through the first three innings of play. The Belles manufactured a run in the top of the fourth inning to take the first lead of the contest. Jamie Young, Kelsey Keilman, and Cassie Young each hit a single to load the bases with no one out. Two batters later, Makenzie Ducan drove in Jamie Young with a sharply-hit infield grounder to the right side. The Belles were unable to inflict any further damage as the game moved to the bottom of the fourth.

Trine posted their first hit of the game with two outs gone in the bottom of the fourth. A full-count, two-out home run by the next batter shifted the momentum to the Thunder. Trine added three more runs for a 5-1 lead through four complete.

The score remained unchanged until the bottom of the sixth inning when a pair of extra-base hits drove in four collective runs and ended the game 9-1.

Morgan Raymer suffered the loss in the circle in game one after going five complete and surrendering five runs while striking out seven. Mary Green entered the game in the bottom of the sixth and was dealt two earned runs.

Jamie Young, Kelsey Keilman, and Cassie Young each registered a hit for the Belles in game one. Jamie Young scored the Belles' run, and Makenzie Duncan picked up an RBI.

In game two, Trine jumped out to a 6-0 lead through three complete, but the Belles were undeterred in their efforts on both sides of the ball. In the bottom of the fourth, Saint Mary's put together a strong inning on offense and posted two runs on the scoreboard. Caitlyn Migawa dropped a one-out single into center field, and Alyssa Gutierrez reached on an error by the second baseman to put two runners aboard. Jill Ackermann pinch ran for Migawa, and the freshman scored on a single to center field by Megan Knudsen for the Belles' first run. Kelsey Richards then put down a perfectly-placed bunt between the first baseman and the pitcher. With the second baseman already covering first in anticipation for the sacrifice bunt, the ball rolled all the way to the outfield grass to allow Gutierrez to score easily from second base.

Trine plated four runs in the top of of the fifth to make it a 10-2 game heading into the bottom half of the inning. Needing at least a run to keep the game alive, the Belles continued to battle and pushed two across the plate. Cassie Young reached on a fielder's choice, and Morgan Raymer singled through the left side to put runners on first and second. A single up the middle by Makenzie Duncan plated Young from second base. Migawa loaded the bases with a single of her own. Alyssa Gutierrez then drove in Raymer with a sacrifice fly to right field to make it a 10-4 game.

The Thunder added four runs in the top of the sixth to extend their lead to 14-4 heading into the bottom half of the frame. Kelsey Richards led off the bottom of the sixth with a solo home run to right center field as the Belles continued to fight. Jamie Young nearly came up and repeated Richards with a long shot to center field for a double. Trine made a pitching change, and the Belles' comeback efforts were stopped short with three consecutive outs to end the game.

Jessica Alberts shouldered the game-two loss in the circle after four earned runs in two-thirds of an inning. Zoe Bruni threw the final 5.1 innings of the game and was tabbed with eight earned runs while striking out three.

Kelsey Richards was 2-for-3 with a solo home run, two RBI, and a run scored. Caitlyn Migawa was 3-for-3, and Jamie Young went 2-for-4. Makenzie Duncan, Alyssa Gutierrez, and Megan Knudsen each drove in a run.

The Belles (19-11, 11-3 MIAA) have a quick turnaround as they host Hope on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. Caitlyn Migawa - the lone senior on the team - will be recognized prior to the start of the game. The Belles' 1982 Indiana State Championship team will be honored between games.