NOTRE DAME, Ind. - The Saint Mary's softball team came up just short in 3-2 and 2-1 (8 innings) setbacks against Anderson on Monday evening.

 

In game one, the visiting Ravens put a runner on third in the top of the first inning with two outs. Zoe Bruni shut the threat down with a strikeout to end the inning. Anderson did score a run in the top of the second inning. A lead-off single was followed by a sacrifice bunt to put a runner on second. A fly out to left field gave the Belles two outs, but a wild pitch allowed the runner to move to third with two outs. A single up the middle then plated the first run of the game for Anderson, but JoAnna Keilman cut down the runner trying to steal second during the next at-bat to bring Saint Mary's up to bat.

 

The Ravens added two more runs in the top of the fifth inning. The lead-off batter was hit by a pitch, and the next Anderson batter doubled down the left field line to put runners on the corners. A single to right field made it a 2-0 game to again put runners on first and third, and a ground out to Madelynne Keller at second base pushed a run across for a 3-0 lead. The Ravens loaded the bases with two outs with a walk, but JoAnna Keilman made a catch at shortstop to end the inning before further damage could be done.

 

Saint Mary's responded in the bottom of the fifth. Zoe Bruni dropped a single down the left field line, and Alyssa Gutierrez came in to run for the senior. After a fly out, Gutierrez stole second to get into scoring position. Two batters later, Kelsey Keilman delivered a two-out double to left-center field to plate Gutierrez. Madelynne Keller then drove in Keilman with a single through the left side of the infield to make it a 3-2 game. Natalie Quinlan added a single to keep the inning alive, but a pop up ended the inning for the Belles.

 

A big defensive play by Saint Mary's kept the Ravens from adding an insurance run in the top of the seventh inning. A walk and a stolen base put a runner on second base before Zoe Bruni caught a come-back shot to give Saint Mary's two outs. The next Anderson batter hit a single to center field, but Kelsey Keilman gunned down the runner who was trying to score from second with a bullet throw to the plate as Natalie Quinlan applied the tag to end the inning. The Belles, however, were unable to use that momentum to generate the needed offense to keep the game alive in the bottom of the seventh inning as the Ravens held on for the 3-2 decision.

 

Madelynne Keller went 3-for-4 with an RBI in game one. Kelsey Keilman had a double, an RBI, and a run. Natalie Quinlan, JoAnna Keilman, Alison Alberts, Zoe Bruni, and Krystal Harris each added a hit. Bruni went the distance in the circle and scattered seven hits over seven innings with five strikeouts.

 

Game two saw the Belles force the Ravens into stranding a runner on third in the top of the first inning as Hailey Hisaw fielded a come-back grounder to end the inning. In the bottom half of the inning, Keller drew a walk and moved to second on a passed ball. A single by Mandi Hettinger kept the inning alive with two outs, but Keller rounded third too far and was put out on the play as the game remained scoreless.

 

Saint Mary's got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third inning. Keller hit a two-out single, and an error by the shortstop allowed Molly Mirabelli to safely reach first. A wild pitch then moved both Mirabelli and Keller up a base, and Mandi Hettinger laced a single off of the pitcher's glove to allow Keller to score.

 

Hailey Hisaw then retired the next 13 batters in-a-row as the freshman put together one of the most efficient outings of the season as the Belles held that 1-0 lead with one out gone in the seventh inning. An infield single put the tying run on base for the Ravens, and a passed ball moved the runner up to second base. Hisaw drew a pop up to Megan Knudsen for the second out of the inning, but an error on the next play allowed the batter to reach first while the runner was able to score from second to tie the game at 1-1.

 

The Ravens pushed across another unearned run in the top of the eighth inning, and the Belles were unable to move Hettinger - who drew a two-out walk - beyond first base in the bottom half of the inning as the game ended 2-1.

 

Mandi Hettinger went 2-for-3 with an RBI in game two. Emma Deery added a single, and Madelynne Keller had a single and scored a run. Hailey Hisaw did not surrender an earned run and scattered four hits over eight innings with one strike out and no walks. The freshman threw just 76 pitches in the complete-game effort in the circle.