NOTRE DAME, Ind. - The Saint Mary's softball team had their offensive efforts stifled in a conference doubleheader against Calvin as the visiting Knights took the games by 5-0 and 10-0 (5 innings) scores on Thursday.

 

Calvin got on the scoreboard in the top of the first inning with a lead-off home run before adding another run with a one-out infield single. The Knights added three more runs in the top of the second inning after capitalizing on a pair of miscues by the Saint Mary's defense. 

 

Saint Mary's had their first scoring chance of the game in the bottom of the second. McKenna Myers reached first base on an error, and Mandi Hettinger put down a sacrifice bunt to move Myers into scoring position. An infield pop up and a strikeout, however, closed the door on the chance for the Belles.

 

Hettinger got out of a jam in the top of the third as the senior induced a bases-loaded ground out back to the pitching circle to end the inning. Mac Pepper got herself into scoring position in the fourth inning after being hit by a pitch and stealing second to start the inning. Three consecutive outs, however, left the junior at second as the game moved to the fifth. 

 

The Belles looked to rally late in the game as Paige Madden laced a lead-off single to center field. A fielder's choice by McKenna Shoupe saw Madden get forced out at second base, but Caitlin Traxler hit a two-out single up the middle to put a pair of runners on base. The Belles were unable to make a dent in the deficit though as a ground out ended the chance. The bottom of the seventh inning saw Mandi Hettinger lead off with a single, and Alexis Rauch hit a ball with so much tailspin that it bounced away from the Calvin second baseman and back toward the pitching circle as the Belles quickly put two runners on base. Natalie Quinlan then laced a one-out single to right field, and Maddie James came in to run. But a pitcher-to-catcher-to-first double play with bases loaded lifted the Knights to the 5-0 decision in the opener.

 

Paige Madden, Caitlin Traxler, Mandi Hettinger, Alexis Rauch, and Natalie Quinlan each had a hit for the Belles in game one. Hettinger went the distance in the pitching circle and was dealt the loss after allowing just two earned runs and striking out four. 

 

A big first inning for Calvin set the tone early in game two as the Knights built a 6-0 lead. Mandi Hettinger hit a one-out double down the right field line and advanced to third on a groundout. The Calvin right fielder, however, snagged a hard-hit line drive by Libby Bierbaum to stop the scoring chance from materializing. 

 

The Knights extended their lead with a four-run third inning for a 10-0 advantage. Mac Pepper had a well-placed hit to left field in the top of the fourth, but another big play by the Calvin outfield led to a double play to end the inning. The Belles were retired in order in the top of the fifth as Calvin claimed the 10-0 final in five innings in game two. 

 

Hettinger had a double, and Mac Pepper added a hit for the Belles in game two. Libby Bierbaum shouldered the loss in the circle after 2.1 innings with two strikeouts. McKenna Grigoli closed out the final 1.2 innings and allowed just one hit.

 

The Belles (4-7, 0-2 MIAA) are scheduled to travel to Alma on Saturday for a conference doubleheader starting at 2:00 p.m.