ALBION, Mich. - The Saint Mary's softball team lost both ends of a conference doubleheader at Albion by 9-3 and 5-0 scores on Saturday.

 

The Belles jumped out to the lead in the top of the first inning of game one. An error allowed Alyssa Gutierrez to reach safely, and Caitlin Traxler laced a two-out single to left field two batters later. JoAnna Keilman hit an infield single to load the bases. Mandi Hettinger then helped her own cause with a single to left field to plate Gutierrez and Traxler.

 

The Britons, however, responded with a one-out RBI double and a two-out, two-RBI double in the bottom half of the inning to snag a 3-2 lead. Both teams were retired in order in the second and third innings. The Belles had a chance to pull even in the top of the fourth. Hettinger hit another single, and Natalie Quinlan delivered a single into left field. Sydney Swartz successfully advanced the pair with a sacrifice bunt, and Mac Pepper reached on a dropped third strike to load the bases. A pop up in the infield, however, saw the Belles leave the bases loaded without inflicting any damage.

 

Albion added to their lead in the bottom of the fifth with six consecutive hits to start the inning. A bases-loaded walk capped off a six-run outburst by the Britons as Albion went ahead 9-2. Needing one more run to end the game, the next two Albion batters were struck out by relief pitcher Caitlin Traxler as the Belles stayed alive. Saint Mary's tried to get a late-inning rally started in the seventh after Mac Pepper reached on an error and advanced to second on the play. McKenna Shoupe drove in Pepper with a bunt single before getting out on a pickle between first and second. The rally ended there for the Belles as Albion took the 9-3 win in game one.

 

Mandi Hettinger went 2-for-2 with two RBIs, and Caitlin Traxler added a 2-for-3 effort at the dish with a run. Natalie Quinlan, JoAnna Keilman, and McKenna Shoupe each added a hit. Hettinger suffered the pitching loss after going four-plus innings and allowing eight runs on ten hits. Caitlin Traxler threw an inning-plus, and McKayla Noecker closed out the pitching efforts in game one with no hits in one inning of work.

 

The Britons took the lead in the top of the second in game two. Albion capitalized on a pair of walks and a wild pitch before plating the first run on a sacrifice fly. The Belles had a chance to tie the game in the bottom of the third. Anna Gruber led off with a double and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Mac Pepper, but the Brits shut the door on the chance with a strikeout to end the frame.

 

Saint Mary's put two runners into scoring position in the bottom of the fourth. Alyssa Gutierrez led off with a single and advanced to second on a McKenna Myers sacrifice bunt. Mandi Hettinger singled to right field before stealing second to put runners on second and third with only one out gone. A pop up and a strikeout, however, ended the scoring opportunity for Saint Mary's. Albion added a run in the top of the fifth and three in the top of the sixth to pull ahead 6-0. The Belles put a runner aboard in the bottom of the sixth and seventh innings but were unable to advance either runner beyond second base in the 6-0 setback.

 

Anna Gruber was 2-for-2 with a double and a walk for the Belles in game two. Alyssa Gutierrez, Mandi Hettinger, JoAnna Keilman, and Mac Pepper each collected a hit. McKayla Noecker shouldered the loss in the circle after going 5.1 innings and allowing five earned runs. Mandi Hettinger closed out the final 1.2 innings and did not surrender a hit while striking out one.

 

The Belles (11-15, 6-8 MIAA) close out the regular season on Sunday when they host Kalamazoo for a doubleheader beginning at 1:00 p.m.