Belles Open NCAA Regional with Win Over Mounties
Saint Mary's Stories
- Makenzie Duncan went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI.
- Madelynne Keller added a 2-for-3 effort with two runs.
- Jessica Alberts earned the complete-game pitching win while striking out three.
NOTRE DAME, Ind. - The No. 19 ranked (NFCA Division III Top 25 Poll) Saint Mary's softball team made the most of their opportunity in the program's debut in the NCAA Division III Softball Championship as the Belles prevailed 6-1 over Mount Aloysius on Friday afternoon.
The Belles got out of a jam in top of the first inning. The Mounties tallied a lead-off single to start the game, but Madelynne Keller snagged a sacrifice bunt attempt out of the air and doubled the runner off at first base to give Saint Mary's two quick outs. Mount Aloysius then posted back-to-back singles to put runners on the corners, but Keller came up with another defensive play to put an end to the threat.
Jamie Young started the offense in the bottom of the first inning with a lead-off bunt single. Two batters later, Makenzie Duncan put the Belles on the scoreboard in a big way with a home run to left-center field for a 2-0 Saint Mary's lead. Two batters later, Keller drew a walk to restart the offense. Bridget Sweeney then rocketed a double to the left-center gap, which allowed Keller to come in to score to make it 3-0.
Jessica Alberts tallied a pair of strikeouts in the second inning, and Kelsey Keilman tracked down a deep fly ball down the left field line in the third inning as the Belles did not allow the Mounties to get a base runner safely past second base over a span of four straight innings.
In the bottom of the fifth, Saint Mary's added to the lead to take control of the momentum. Cassie Young reached on an error, and Madelynne Keller singled up the middle to put runners on the corners. Bridget Sweeney then singled to shortstop as Young came in to score to push the lead to 4-0. Kelsey Richards drew a two-out walk two batters later to load the bases. Alyssa Gutierrez then punched a single through the left side to drive in both Keller and Sweeney to put the Belles up 6-0.
The Mounties broke up the shutout effort with a double and a two-out RBI single in the top of the sixth inning. An inning later, Mount Aloysius registered a lead-off single in their final at-bats. Alberts, however, closed out the game and the win with a strikeout as the Belles claimed the 6-1 victory.
Makenzie Duncan went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI. Madelynne Keller added a 2-for-3 effort with two runs. Alyssa Gutierrez was 2-for-3 with two RBI, and Bridget Sweeney went 2-for-3 with a run and two RBI.
Jessica Alberts went the distance in the circle and picked up the complete-game win after scattering 10 hits and walking one while striking out three.
The Belles (36-5) are back on the field on Saturday morning at 11:00 a.m. when they square off against Ohio Northern University in day two action at the NCAA Division III Notre Dame, Indiana Regional.