NOTRE DAME, Ind. - The Saint Mary's softball team bounced back from a 5-2 loss in game one to take a 9-0 win in five innings against visiting Kalamazoo in a non-conference doubleheader on Sunday.

 

The Hornets took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning of game one. A lead-off walk was followed two batters later by a single to center field. A passed ball allowed the first runner to score while a two-out triple to right field plated the second run for Kalamazoo. Saint Mary's got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the second inning. JoAnna Keilman led off with a single to center field and stole second base to get into scoring position. Caitlin Traxler added a single to put runners at the corners before swiping second base. A single by McKenna Myers to right-center field allowed Keilman to score easily. Myers moved up to second with a stolen base of her own for two runners in scoring position with no outs, but the Belles were unable to capitalize as three infield outs ended the inning.

 

Kalamazoo plated a pair in the top of the third and added another run in the top of the fifth for a 5-1 advantage. Saint Mary's had strong chances to cut into the deficit in the third and fourth innings. The Belles loaded the bases in the third with just one out gone but were unable to plate a runner. In the fourth inning, Mac Pepper and McKenna Shoupe had back-to-back two-out hits before the rally was stopped short.

 

Down by four runs in the bottom of the sixth, Liv Lauck came in to hit and led off with a double to right field. Two batters later, Mac Pepper beat out an infield single to put a pair on base. After a line-drive out, Alyssa Gutierrez lofted a double to left field to push Lauck across for the Belles' second run of the game. The Belles, however, stranded Pepper and Gutierrez in scoring position to end the inning. JoAnna Keilman led off the bottom of the seventh with a double, but the senior was unable to advance any further as the Hornets took the 5-2 win in the opener. Saint Mary's out-hit Kalamazoo 12-8 but left 11 runners on base to the Hornets' seven runners left on base.

 

Mac Pepper was 2-for-3 at the dish while McKenna Shoupe, JoAnna Keilman, and Caitlin Traxler all went 2-for-4. Shoupe added a stolen base, and Keilman had a double and scored a run. Liv Lauck was 1-for-2 with a double and a run. Alyssa Gutierrez and McKenna Myers each collected an RBI. McKayla Noecker shouldered the loss in the pitching circle after going two-plus and being tallied with four earned runs. Mandi Hettinger threw four-plus innings in relief and surrendered a run before Libby Bierbaum closed out the final inning.

 

Saint Mary's took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning of game two against Kalamazoo. McKenna Myers reached on an error to start the inning, and Libby Bierbaum laced a single to left field. Sydney Swartz advanced the pair with a sacrifice bunt, and Mac Pepper drove in Myers with a single. McKenna Shoupe added a single of her own to score Bierbaum for the 2-0 lead. 

 

The Belles plated three more runs in the top of the fourth inning. Shoupe led off with a triple to right field, and an error on a squeeze bunt by Mandi Hettinger allowed Shoupe to score while Hettinger was safe on the play. Another error saw Hettinger move to second while JoAnna Keilman made it to first base, and Caitlin Traxler drove in Hettinger from second with a double. McKenna Myers used a sacrifice fly to right field to plate Keilman for the 5-0 lead.

 

After a three-up, three-down inning defensively, the Belles kept the bats going in the top of the fifth. Saint Mary's sent nine batters to the dish and scored four runs to snag a 9-0 lead. Sydney Swartz led off with a single and stole second base before Mac Pepper beat out an infield single. Pepper stole second, and Shoupe drove in Swartz with a single. Alyssa Gutierrez was hit by a pitch to load the bases. An infield fly and a force out play at home put two outs away against the Belles, but Saint Mary's was able to keep the offense going with a single up the middle by Caitlin Traxler to make it 7-0. McKenna Myers then hit a single to left-center field as Gutierrez and Keilman both scored on the play for the 9-0 lead.

 

Kalamazoo put their lead-off hitter on base with a single to right field, but JoAnna Keilman came up with a line drive double play to record a pair of outs. Libby Bierbaum then drew an infield pop up to end the inning and the game by the 9-0 margin in five innings.

 

Each player in the lineup for the Belles either scored a run, drove in a run, or both in the 9-0 victory. McKenna Shoupe was 3-for-4 with a stolen base, a triple, two RBIs, and two runs. Mac Pepper went 2-for-3 with a stolen base and an RBI. Caitlin Traxler was 2-for-4 with a double and a pair of RBIs. McKenna Myers added a 1-for-3 effort with a team-best three RBIs. Mandi Hettinger picked up the pitching win after striking out two, allowing one hit, and walking none in four innings. Libby Bierbaum closed out the final inning and allowed just one hit while facing the minimum in a combined shutout effort with Hettinger.

 

The Belles (11-11) are back at home on Monday when the host Hope for a conference doubleheader starting at 3:00 p.m.