HOLLAND, Mich. - The Saint Mary's softball team fell by 7-1 and 8-0 (5 innings) scores at Hope in a conference doubleheader on Saturday.

 

Caitlin Traxler used a two-out single to get a runner on base for the Belles in the top of the first inning, but a fly out by Alexis Rauch ended the scoring chance. The Flying Dutch plated a one-out run in the bottom of the first. Grace Renschen dialed in a strikeout, but Hope capitalized on three wild pitches, a single, and an error to push three more runs across.

 

The Belles bounced back with a run in the top of the second inning. Renschen laced a one-out single to left field before moving up to second on an infield groundout. Natalie Quinlan delivered a two-out single to right field to plate Renschen from second base.

 

Hope countered with a run in the bottom of the second. The Belles nearly got out of a bases loaded jam as Renschen induced a ground out to McKenna Myers at shortstop, and the sophomore cut down the lead runner at the plate. The Flying Dutch, however, got a two-out single to center field to score a run before Renschen closed out the inning with another strikeout. Two innings later, Myers used an unassisted double play to get a runner out at second before making the throw across to first to end the fourth. 

 

Quinlan collected her second hit of the game with a one-out single in the top of the fifth, but the Belles were unable to advance pinch runner Maddie James past first base. In the top of the sixth, Traxler hit a one-out single to left field. Alexis Rauch advanced Traxler to second with a sacrifice, but a hard-hit line drive by Mandi Hettinger was caught to end the inning. Hope plated two runs in the bottom of the sixth, and the Belles were retired in order in the seventh in the 7-1 final.

 

Natalie Quinlan went 2-for-3 with an RBI in the opener. Caitlin Traxler added a 2-for-3 effort, and Grace Renschen went 1-for-3 with a run. Renschen shouldered the loss in the circle after going five complete with two strikeouts. Mandi Hettinger closed out the final inning with no walks and one strikeout.

 

McKenna Myers beat out an infield single in the bottom of the first inning of game two before a pair of outs to the Hope third baseman stopped the offense for the Belles. Libby Bierbaum forced the Flying Dutch into stranding a runner on second in the top of the second. Hope hit a one-out double, but Bierbaum caught a come-back pop up before ringing up a strikeout. Mandi Hettinger led off the second with a single, and Grace Renschen put down the sacrifice bunt to advance Hettinger to second. A strikeout and a flyout, however, shut the door on the scoring chance. 

 

The Flying Dutch used back-to-back doubles in the top of the third to plate the first run of the game, but Bierbaum came up with a pair of ground outs and a strikeout to keep Hope from extending the lead. Mac Pepper then tried to get the Belles in business with a one-out double in the bottom half of the inning. Saint Mary's was unable to connect a pair of hits together though with a pop up and a foul pop up both going down in the scorebook as outs.

 

Hope got a big boost of momentum with a three-run home run in the fourth, but the Belles continued to battle in their next at-bats. Hettinger collected her second hit of the game, and Libby Bierbaum drew a two-out walk to put two aboard. Natalie Quinlan also worked a two-out walk to load the bases. An infield groundout, however, saw the Belles come up empty-handed. The Flying Dutch added four runs in the top of the fifth, and the Belles were unable to break through with a run to keep the game alive in the 8-0 final.

 

Mandi Hettinger went 2-for-2 in game two. Mac Pepper hit a double, and McKenna Myers added a hit. Natalie Quinlan and Libby Bierbaum each drew a walk. Bierbaum was dealt the loss after 4.2 innings of work with six strikeouts and one walk. McKenna Grigoli came in for the final 0.1 inning of the top of the fifth. 

 

The Belles (9-16, 4-8 MIAA) are set to travel to Kalamazoo on Wednesday for a conference doubleheader starting at 3:00 p.m.