KISSIMMEE, Fla. - Saint Mary's College Softball would sweep their double header on Thursday, defeating Meredith College, 12-9, and taking down Gordon College, 6-4, in the nightcap. The Belles improve to 3-5 on the year while the Avenging Angels fall to 8-8 and the Fighting Scots fall to 2-6.
Saint Mary's vs Meredith
Meredith would come out hot to open the day, scoring four runs in the first inning. Saint Mary's would look to start a comeback in the second inning after a bases loaded walk to sophomore Laura Heim (Howards Grove, WI) would bring junior Sophie Allen (Osceola, IN) around to score. But the Angels would come back and score a run of their own in the bottom of the second.
The Belles would come out red hot in the third inning as they would take a 7-5 lead after putting up six runs in the top of the third. With the bases loaded, senior Alexis Rauch (Cassopolis, MI) would come around to score off a wild pitch before Allen would single to bring home junior Sam Mikitka (Naperville, IL). Saint Mary's would then score three more runs with the bases loaded as junior Leah Zimmerman (Huntertown, IN) would bring home freshman Gia Schiavone (Poland, OH). Freshman Hunter St. Peter (Traverse City, MI) would take a bases-loaded walk to bring Allen home for her second run of the game before Heim would get her second RBI of the day with an RBI single, bringing home sophomore Mary Charniak (Palos Hills, IL).
Meredith wouldn't go away as they would take their lead back with a four run fourth inning. But the Belles would answer right away with four runs of their own in the top of the fifth. With the bases loaded, Zimmerman would come around to score after a wild pitch on a strikeout before Schiavone would step up with the bases loaded and send a three-run double to left field which brough Rauch, Heim, and St. Peter around to score to give the Belles the lead back, 11-9.
Saint Mary's would tack on an insurance run in the top of the seventh as freshman Lydia Hinga (Portage, MI) would get a leadoff double before advancing to third with two outs. Schiavone would step up and record her third hit and fourth RBI of the day with a single to the left side of the infield to bring Hinga home.
The Belles would shut down the Angels offense entirely in the seventh as freshman Faith Dean (Monroe, MI) would come in and secure her first collegiate save by sitting the Angels down in order.
Schiavone would lead the team, going 3-4 at the dish with a double and four RBI's while stealing a base. St. Peter, Heim, and Zimmerman would all add two hits on the day while St. Peter and Hinga added a double each. Heim would also bring in two runs of her own while Rauch, Allen, and Zimmerman would each score twice. Allen would also steal two bags on the day.
Mikitka would go four innings and strike out four batters while freshman Ashlyn Yeo (Jackson, MI) would come in in relief and earn her first collegiate win, allowing no runs and striking out one in her two innings of work while Dean would secure her first save in the seventh inning.
Saint Mary's vs Gordon
Gordon would get on the board with an early run in the first inning before both offenses would go silent for the next few innings. But Saint Mary's would come out and put up four runs in the third inning, their third time scoring four or more in an inning today.
After two singles to open the inning, Hinga would reach on an error while sacrifice bunting which allowed Zimmerman to come around to score. After a walk to load the bases, Mikitka would single through the left side, bringing home freshmen Maddi Duncan (Sarasota, Fla.) and sophomore Allie Moss (Goshen, IN) after Moss had pinch run for Hinga. After another walk to load the bases, sophomore Adele Zurek (Middlebury, IN) would hit a sacrifice fly to center field allowing Rauch to score.
The Belles would come back out in the fourth inning to add two more runs to their lead, starting with a Zimmerman triple down the right field line before St. Peter would bring her around to score with an RBI single. After a sacrifice bunt from Duncan, Hinga would single to left field, bringing St. Peter home.
While Gordon would start to make a comeback, scoring one run in the sixth and two in the seventh, the Saint Mary's defense would hold strong and earn a 6-4 victory for their third straight win.
Zimmerman would lead the team going 3-3 at the dish including her triple and scoring two runs. St. Peter would also join her with multiple hits, going 2-4. Mikitka would lead the team with two RBI's on the night.
Dean would have a strong showing, throwing five innings and allowing one unearned run on one hit and striking out three batters for her second win of the young season. Yeo would make her second appearance of the day, facing five batters, while Mikitka would throw 1.2 innings, giving up one hit and earning her first save of the season.
UP NEXT FOR THE BELLES
Saint Mary's concludes The Spring Games with a double header on Friday. The Belles kick off the day at 9am against Utica University before taking on Lasell University at 11:30am.