CHICAGO, Ill. - The Saint Mary's softball team fell in a non-conference doubleheader at the University of Chicago by 2-1 and 1-0 scores on Wednesday afternoon.

 

The Belles had the first scoring chance of the day in game one as Caitlin Traxler laced a lead-off double to left center field in the top of the second inning. The junior advanced to third on an infield ground out two batters later, but Traxler was stranded at third after another infield ground out ended the scoring chance. 

 

The defense came up with solid plays in the bottom of the third. Paige Madden collected a fly out in right field, and Natalie Quinlan cut down a runner trying to steal second base to give the Belles two outs. Traxler then collected a line drive for an out to end the inning. 

 

The fourth inning saw the Belles stir the pot again as Alexis Rauch beat out an infield single to lead things off. McKenna Myers put down a sacrifice bunt to push Rauch into scoring position, and a wild pitch allowed the freshman to advance to third. Traxler drew a walk to put runners on the corners before using a delayed steal to take second base. A fly out to right field was not quite deep enough to allow Rauch to tag up on the play, and a ground out stranded the pair in scoring position. The Belles returned the favor in the bottom of the fourth and the fifth defensively by forcing the Maroons into stranding a lead-off runner in the fourth inning before Mandi Hettinger induced a two-out groundout with runners on second and third as the game remained scoreless.

 

Alexis Rauch got Saint Mary's on the scoreboard in a big way with a solo home run to left center field in the top of the sixth. The Belles nearly got out of another jam in the bottom half after a sacrifice bunt and a strong defensive play by McKenna Myers at shortstop gave Saint Mary's two outs with a runner on second. The Maroons, however, used a single to center field and a double to plate two runs for a 2-1 lead. Saint Mary's was unable to get the offense going in the top of the seventh as the Belles were retired in order.

 

Alexis Rauch went 2-for-3 in game one with a solo home run and a single. Caitlin Traxler collected a double and a walk. Mandi Hettinger suffered the pitching loss after going six innings in the circle with two strikeouts and no walks.

 

Game two saw both sides go three up, three down in the first inning. Caitlin Traxler continued to find her way on base for the Belles after beating out an infield single to shortstop, but a double play by the Maroons ended the inning two batters later. Chicago manufactured a run in the bottom half of the inning as the host Maroons had a lead-off single, a stolen base, and another single to plate a run. Mandi Hettinger then snagged a hard-hit grounder at first for an out, Mac Pepper ran down a foul fly ball for an out in right field, and Libby Bierbaum collected a come-back grounder for the third out to keep Saint Mary's well within striking distance.

 

Grace Renschen led off the top of the third by punching a single to right field, but the Maroons were able to get the lead runner out on force outs before forcing the Belles into stranding McKenna Shoupe on base with an infield ground out. Traxler started the next scoring chance for Saint Mary's in the top of the fourth with a two-out single, but the Belles could not capitalize on the chance. In the bottom of the fourth, the defense continued to come up with plays as a sacrifice bunt turned into an unorthodox double play with Anna Gruber getting the out at first before Traxler threw across the field to Libby Bierbaum for the tag at third as the Chicago runner attempted to go first-to-third on the play.

 

Bierbaum helped her own cause by reaching on a fielding error. Renschen then put down a sacrifice bunt to advance Bierbaum, and the sophomore got out of a pickle between second and third to move 60 feet away from scoring. Two batters later, a close play at first with two outs saw the scoring chance come up short for the Belles in the top of the fifth as McKenna Shoupe was called out on the effort.

 

Traxler and Myers each made solid defensive plays in the bottom of the fifth to force the Maroons into stranding a lead-off double. Mac Pepper led off the sixth with a single, and Traxler kept the inning alive after reaching on a dropped third strike. Hettinger got ahold of a pitch, but the senior's hard-hit attempt was corralled by the center fielder to end the inning. 

 

The Belles put together another scoring chance in the top of the seventh inning. Bierbaum reached on another error as Maddie James came in to run for the sophomore. Grace Renschen saw her sacrifice bunt effort turn into a single as the freshman beat out the throw to first. The Belles, however, were unable to successfully advance a runner past second base as three consecutive outs ended the game by the 1-0 final margin.

 

Grace Renschen was 2-for-2 with a sacrifice bunt. Caitlin Traxler added a 2-for-3 showing at the dish, and Mac Pepper registered a hit for the Belles. Libby Bierbaum shouldered the loss after scattering four hits over six innings with three strikeouts and no walks.

 

The Belles (8-13) are set to travel to Anderson on Friday for a doubleheader starting at 3:00 p.m.