NOTRE DAME, Ind. - The Saint Mary's softball team picked up 6-1 and 12-3 (5 innings) wins over Kalamazoo in a conference doubleheader to close out the regular season and head into the MIAA Tournament with some momentum.
The Belles took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning in game one.
McKenna Myers started off what would be a strong day with a single to left field. The freshman advanced on a ground out by
Mandi Hettinger before moving to third on a passed ball.
Caitlin Traxler laced a single up the middle to plate Myers with the game's first run. Saint Mary's stranded a runner on third in the second inning, and the Hornets drew even in the top of the third with a single, a sacrifice bunt, and a single. The Belles responded with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning.
McKenna Shoupe led off with a single on a well-placed bunt and advanced to third on a one-out single by
Mandi Hettinger. Hettinger trotted over to second on the next pitch, and Traxler drove both runners in with a single to center field to give Saint Mary's the 3-1 lead.
The Belles added two runs in the bottom of the fifth. Myers hit a lead-off double and scored on a one-out single by Traxler.
JoAnna Keilman kept things going with a single to left field as Traxler moved to second. An error on a fly ball hit by
McKayla Noecker allowed Traxler to score for the 5-1 advantage for the Belles. In the bottom of the sixth,
Mandi Hettinger drove in Shoupe with a single to left field to push the lead to five runs. Kalamazoo had a chance in the top of the seventh as the Hornets put runners on second and third with just one out gone, but Hettinger induced a pop up and ground out to end the game.
Game two saw the Hornets gain a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second with a pair of doubles. Kalamazoo made it a 3-0 advantage in the bottom of the third. A bases-loaded single followed by a bases-loaded fielder's choice to get a force out at third pushed two runs across for the Hornets.
Saint Mary's got on the scoreboard in the top of the fourth. Traxler hit a single up the middle to lead off the inning, and Keilman advanced Traxler with a sacrifice bunt.
McKayla Noecker then doubled to left field to plate Traxler. The Belles retired the Hornets in order in the bottom half of the inning. Saint Mary's then broke the game wide open in the top of the fifth. The Belles sent 16 batters to the plate and scored 11 runs on 10 hits and one error.
Caitlin Traxler,
JoAnna Keilman, and
McKayla Noecker each had two hits in the fifth inning alone as the Belles had their highest-scoring inning of the season. The defense retired the Hornets in order in the bottom of the fifth to secure the 12-3 win in five innings.
McKenna Myers and
JoAnna Keilman each went 3-for-3. Myers scored two runs and drove in one, and Keilman had a run and an RBI.
Caitlin Traxler and
McKayla Noecker each chipped in three hits with a double apiece. Traxler scored three runs and drove in an additional three runs. Noecker had four RBIs and scored once.
Mandi Hettinger picked up the pitching win in relief as the junior threw two complete innings and faced the minimum six batters after entering in the fourth inning.
McKayla Noecker had a no-decision after going the first three innings and being tabbed with three runs.
The Belles (13-15, 8-8 MIAA) await official word from the conference office as to their seeding and where they will be playing the opening day of the MIAA Tournament, which begins on Thursday, May 6.
