KALAMAZOO, Mich. - The Saint Mary's softball team fell in a pair of non-conference games by a 6-5 score against host Kalamazoo and 6-3 in game two against Adrian on Saturday.

 

The Belles built a 5-0 lead against host Kalamazoo in the first game of the day. McKenna Shoupe led the game off with a double to right-center field. A Paige Madden sacrifice bunt advanced Shoupe to third, and Mandi Hettinger used a ground out to drive in Shoupe for the 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Natalie Quinlan cut down a runner trying to steal third in the bottom of the first, and the Belles took advantage of their next at-bats. JoAnna Keilman laced a lead-off double down the left field line, and Sydney Swartz singled to put runners on the corners before Swartz stole second. Liv Lauck put a single through the right side of the Kalamazoo defense to plate both Keilman and Swartz for a 3-0 advantage.

 

In nearly a carbon copy of the second inning, Keilman started off the top of the fourth with another double while Swartz added another single and stolen base to put two runners in scoring position. A wild pitch two batters later allowed Keilman to score for a 4-0 Saint Mary's lead. The Belles added to their lead in the top of the fifth. Shoupe had a lead-off single and stole second before advancing to third on a dropped third strike forced the Hornets into a throw to first base. Hettinger hit a single to right field to allow Shoupe to score easily from third. Saint Mary's, however, was unable to push any additional runs across after loading the bases as the Belles took the 5-0 lead into the bottom of the fifth.

 

After scoring a pair of runs with one out gone, the Hornets tallied three more runs with two outs in the bottom half of the inning to tie the game at 5-5. Kalamazoo took the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning with a two-out RBI single. In the top of the seventh, the Belles had a chance to tie the game or take the lead. After a fielder's choice put Anna Gruber on first, Mac Pepper came in to run with one out gone. The sophomore stole second, and JoAnna Keilman was hit by a pitch to put two runners on base. The pair advanced 60 feet to put the tying run on third and the go-ahead run on second, but back-to-back infield outs ended the game by the 6-5 margin.

 

JoAnna Keilman was 3-for-3 in the game with a pair of doubles and two runs scored. McKenna Shoupe went 3-for-4 with two runs and a double. Sydney Swartz was 2-for-4 against Kalamazoo with a run and two stolen bases. Liv Lauck drove in a pair with a 1-for-4 effort at the dish, and Mandi Hettinger had two runs batted in with a 1-for-3 game at the plate. McKayla Noecker made her pitching debut for the Belles and allowed one run in four-plus innings with three strikeouts. Libby Bierbaum threw one inning in relief and was tagged with four earned runs. Caitlin Traxler shouldered the loss in the circle after coming in at the bottom of the sixth and surrendering the go-ahead run while only allowing one hit.

 

Against Adrian, the Belles got out of a jam in the top of the second as Saint Mary's forced the Bulldogs into stranding bases loaded as Mandi Hettinger drew a ground out back to herself in the pitching circle. Adrian, however, plated three runs in the top of the third and added two more runs in the fourth for a 5-0 lead.

 

The Belles got a run back in the bottom half of the fourth inning. Hettinger led off with a double to left field. Two outs later, Caitlin Traxler drove in the junior with a single to center field to put Saint Mary's on the scoreboard. Both sides were retired in order in the fifth inning. The Bulldogs get a run in the top of the sixth with a two-out RBI double to make it a 6-1 game. In the bottom half of the inning, the Belles put together their own two-out rally. Anna Gruber singled through the left side, and JoAnna Keilman singled to right field. Cailtin Traxler drove in the pair with a double to left field to make it a 6-3 score, but the Belles were unable to inflict any further damage in the inning. Saint Mary's put two runners on base in the bottom of the seventh as Mac Pepper drew a walk and McKenna Shoupe singled, but a ground out ended the game by the 6-3 final score.

 

Caitlin Traxler went 2-for-3 with a double and three RBI for the Belles. JoAnna Keilman, Anna Gruber, and Mandi Hettinger each had a hit and scored for Saint Mary's. Hettinger went the distance in the circle with a pair of strikeouts and no walks for the Belles while suffering the loss.

 

The Belles (2-4) are back to conference play when they have their home opener on Wednesday, March 31 against Olivet starting at 3:00 p.m.