MONTGOMERY, Ill. - Saint Mary's College Softball fell in both games of a double header at Aurora University on Tuesday evening, 9-7 in game one and 8-2 in game two. The Belles fall to 5-7 on the season while the Spartans improve to 8-4.
Game One
Saint Mary's would come out firing in the first inning of game one, recording four straight hits to start the game. This included a two RBI double for freshman Hunter St. Peter (Traverse City, MI) which would bring freshman Talia Jorgensen (St. Paul, MN) and sophomore Laura Heim (Howards Grove, WI) around to score. Junior Sam Mikitka (Naperville, IL) would then ground out to drive home St. Peter to extend the Belles lead. The scoring wouldn't stop there as freshman Faith Dean (Monroe, MI) would single through the left side of the infield to score senior Alexis Rauch (Cassopolis, MI). Aurora would come out and out up two runs of their own in the bottom half, giving the Belles a 4-2 lead after one inning.
Saint Mary's would extend that lead in the third inning as, with the bases loaded, junior Leah Zimmerman (Huntertown, IN) would single through the left side which would allow freshman Gia Schiavone (Poland, OH) to score. After a quick pitching change for the Spartans, Jorgensen would single to the shortstop which would allow Dean and freshman Lydia Hinga (Portage, MI) to both score, extending the lead to 7-2.
The Aurora offense would wake up in the bottom of the fourth inning as they would score five runs in the inning to tie the ball game. The Spartans would also come out and add two more runs in the sixth inning to take the lead and the win in game one, 9-7.
Jorgensen would lead the team, going 3 for 4 at the dish with two RBI's. Schiavone, Dean, and Zimmerman would all record multi-hit games while St. Peter would also drive in two RBI's of her own. St. Peter, Rauch, and Heim would all record a double in the game as well.
Dean would be the pitcher of record, bringing her season record to 3-3. She would throw 3.1 innings, giving up six runs on nine hits while striking out one. Sophomore Sammy Schrader (Romeoville, IL) would come in the game in relief, pitching 2.2 innings allowing three runs, two earned, on five hits.
Game Two
The Belles would get out to a quick start offensively in the top of the first to open game two as they would open the game with three straight doubles. Jorgensen would double through the left side to lead off the game before Heim would bring her around with a double down the left field line. St. Peter would then bring Heim around to score with a double to left center. This would be all of the scoring for Saint Mary's as the Aurora pitching staff would shut them down the rest of the game.
The Spartans would answer with two runs of their own in the bottom of the first before adding two in the fourth and four in the fifth to secure their double header sweep.
Jorgensen and St. Peter would both for 2 for 4 at the dish while Jorgensen would tally one double and St. Peter would tally two. Heim, Mikitka, Rauch, and Schiavone would record the other four hits for the Belles. St. Peter and Heim would record the two RBI's for the Belles on the game.
Mikitka would be the pitcher of record for Saint Mary's, bringing her record to 1-3 on the season. She would throw all six innings, allowing eight runs on ten hits.
UP NEXT FOR THE BELLES
Saint Mary's takes a bit of a break before they return to action on March 29 as they host North Park University for their home opener at the Purcell Athletic Fields. The Belles and Vikings double header is set for 1 and 3pm.
