NOTRE DAME, Ind. - The Saint Mary's softball team concluded the 2022 season with a doubleheader conference sweep of Albion by 3-0 and 7-2 scores on Friday afternoon.

 

The Belles got out of a jam in the top of the first inning of game one. The Brits hit a lead-off single, added another single, and used a sacrifice bunt to move the pair of runners into scoring position with just one out gone. Mandi Hettinger, however, locked in and delivered back-to-back strikeouts to shut down the scoring chance. Saint Mary's forced Albion into stranding a two-out double at second as Hettinger induced a fly out to McKenna Shoupe in center field.

 

After leaving a pair of runners on base in the bottom of the second, the Belles got on the scoreboard in a big way in the bottom of the third. Mac Pepper battled through several foul balls before taking advantage of a ball hit with so much spin that it rolled from foul territory back across the third-base line and into fair territory for an infield single. McKenna Myers then blasted a home run down the left field line for a 2-0 lead. Mandi Hettinger laced the 100th hit of her career to right field and moved up to second on an error, but the Belles had to be content with the two-run lead through three innings.

 

The score remained unchanged until the bottom of the sixth. Caitlin Traxler reached on an error, and Alexis Rauch drove a double to the right-center gap to plate Traxler for a 3-0 lead. Albion put their lead-off batter on base in the top of the seventh, but Hettinger stayed in control and induced consecutive fly outs before a ground out to Myers at shortstop closed out the game.

 

Alexis Rauch went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI. McKenna Myers was 1-for-3 with a home run, two RBI, and a run. Mac Pepper added a single and a run, and Caitlin Traxler scored a run. Grace Renschen collected a hit, and Mandi Hettinger tallied the 100th hit of her career with a single. Hettinger earned the complete-game shutout victory in the circle after scattering seven hits over seven innings with three strikeouts and no walks.

 

The Belles carried over their game-one momentum into the nightcap as Saint Mary's plated two runs right away in the top of the first inning. Mac Pepper drew a walk, and McKenna Myers hit a single to the outfield before the pair both moved up after a throwing error. Catlin Traxler then drove a single up the middle to score both runners.

 

Saint Mary's added a run in the top of the second. Winnie Tomsheck led off with a single through the left side of the defense, and Maddie James came in to pinch run. McKenna Shoupe put down a sacrifice bunt to move James to second, and the freshman advanced to third on a wild pitch. Mac Pepper then drove in James with an infield ground out for a 3-0 lead.

 

The Belles kept the offense going early as Caitlin Traxler led off the top of the third with a double. Alexis Rauch found the right-center gap with a single to drive in Traxler, and Grace Renschen and Rauch were both safe after an error kept the pair on base. Libby Bierbaum delivered a blast down the left field line for a three-run home run for a 7-0 lead. 

 

Albion plated a run in the bottom of the third and another run in the bottom of the fifth, but Libby Bierbaum finished the game by facing just six batters over the final two innings of the contest for the complete-game win. 

 

Caitlin Traxler went 3-for-4 with a double, two RBI, and a run. Winnie Tomsheck was 2-for-3 on the day for the first multi-hit game of her collegiate career. Alexis Rauch was 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run. Libby Bierbaum hit a home run and drove in three runs. Mac Pepper drove in a run and scored once while McKenna Myers had a hit and scored a run. Grace Renschen and Maddie James each scored a run for the Belles. Bierbaum earned the complete-game pitching win by scattering five hits and allowing two runs in the game with no walks and four strikeouts.

 

The Belles finish the season 12-19 overall with a 7-9 MIAA record.