ANGOLA, Ind. - The Saint Mary's softball team fell in a 2-1 elimination round game to Kalamazoo in the MIAA Tournament to conclude the 2021 season on Friday.

 

The Belles put a pair of runners on base in the top of the first inning. Mandi Hettinger won a lengthy at-bat by drawing a full-count walk, and Caitlin Traxler pushed a single through the right side all with two outs. A fly out, however, ended the scoring chance as the two were stranded.

 

The Hornets took the lead in the bottom half of the inning with a solo home run, but the Belles came right back with a run of their own in the top of the second inning. Libby Bierbaum led off with a walk, and Alyssa Gutierrez used a sacrifice bunt to move Bierbaum into scoring position. Sydney Swartz then drew a walk to put two on base. Mac Pepper put down a sacrifice bunt of her own to advance Bierbaum and Swartz to third and second. McKenna Shoupe drew the two-out walk to load the bases, and a soft line drive by McKenna Myers hit toward the Kalamazoo second baseman was misjudged as Bierbaum came in to score.

 

Saint Mary's put a pair on base in the top of the third inning with just one out gone, but the Belles were unable to push a run across. In the bottom half of the inning, the defense worked their way out of a jam to keep the game tied. The Hornets loaded the bases with two outs gone before Alyssa Gutierrez snagged a line drive to end the threat.

 

Kalamazoo claimed the lead in the bottom of the fourth with a two-out RBI single. In the top of the sixth, Libby Bierbaum led off with her third walk of the day, and Gutierrez advanced Bierbaum with a sacrifice bunt. A fly out and a ground out, however, left Bierbaum at second as the Belles trailed 2-1 going into their final at-bats. McKenna Shoupe led off the top of the seventh with a single up the middle, and McKenna Myers put down a sacrifice bunt to advance Shoupe into scoring position. A hard-hit grounder to third base by Mandi Hettinger saw Shoupe draw the throw away from first before diving back into second base to put two runners aboard. A fly out to center field and a line drive out ended both the chance to extend the contest and the game itself as Kalamazoo took the 2-1 win.

 

Caitlin Traxler went 2-for-4 at the dish while Libby Bierbaum walked three times and scored the Belles' run. McKenna Shoupe chipped in a hit of her own. Alyssa Gutierrez tallied two sacrifice bunts, and McKenna Myers and Mac Pepper each registered a sacrifice. Mandi Hettinger had the no-decision in the circle after going three complete while allowing one run. Libby Bierbaum shouldered the loss after closing out the final three innings and allowing the go-ahead run.

 

The Belles conclude their season with a 13-17 overall record.