NOTRE DAME, Ind. - The Saint Mary's softball team ran up against an efficient offense in MIAA foe Trine in a pair of losses in a conference doubleheader on Thursday.

 

The Thunder, who were receiving votes in the latest NFCA Division III Top 25 Coaches Poll, set the tone early in game one as Trine broke through for 11 runs in the top half of the first inning. Trine added runs in the top half of each inning as they built an insurmountable lead in the opener. The offense was more than enough for their pitcher as Adrienne Rosey posted a five-inning no-hitter against the Belles after recording all the outs via strikeout. The Belles got a baserunner on in the bottom of the fifth to break up the perfect game as Caitlin Traxler drew a full-count walk. Mandi Hettinger suffered the pitching loss. Grace Renschen and McKenna Grigoli each made an appearance in the game.

 

The Belles put a runner on base in the top of the first inning of game two as Alexis Rauch dropped a single into left field with one out gone, but Saint Mary's was unable to move the freshman past second base. Defensively, the Belles got out of a jam in the bottom half of the inning. With runners on first and second with one out gone, Mac Pepper made a solid catch in right field before Libby Bierbaum induced a come-back grounder to end the inning. 

 

Bierbaum then reached first in the top of the second on an error, but again, the Belles were unable to string together the offense to get things going against Trine. The Thunder plated four runs all on two outs to gain a lead. 

 

In the top of the third, Mac Pepper got behind a pitch and drove the ball past the defense for a stand-up triple with one out gone. A fly out was not deep enough to allow the junior to tag up from third, and a strikeout ended the scoring chance. The Thunder ballooned their lead with a seven-run outburst in the bottom of the third.  

 

Caitlin Traxler led off the fourth with a solo home run to center field to put Saint Mary's on the scoreboard, and Mandi Hettinger drew a walk. A fly out, a fielder's choice in the infield for a force out, and a ground out, however, stopped the Belles from making a bigger dent in the deficit. Trine, meanwhile, countered with five runs in the fourth and retired the side in order in the top of the fifth for the game-two decision.

 

Caitlin Traxler had a home run, and Mac Pepper added a double. Alexis Rauch collected a hit, and Rauch and Pepper each had a pair of defensive putouts. Libby Bierbaum was dealt the loss in the pitching circle, and McKenna Grigoli came on in relief for an inning. 

 

The Belles (6-9, 2-4 MIAA) travel to Alma on Friday for a 2:00 p.m. conference doubleheader.