ALBION, Mich. - The Saint Mary's softball team bounced back from a 5-0 setback in game one and took a 4-1 win in game two at Albion in the Belles' first conference doubleheader of the year.

 

The Belles looked to break through in the top of the second after McKenna Myers hit a one-out single to left field. Alexis Rauch added a hit of her own to put a pair on base, but back-to-back outs defensively by the Brits ended the chance. Albion then used three hits and an error to plate three runs in the bottom half of the inning to take the lead.

 

Saint Mary's got a hit in the third from McKenna Shoupe and a hit in the fourth from McKenna Myers but was unable to take advantage of either opportunity. Albion, meanwhile, took advantage of a two-out error in the bottom of the fourth and plated two more runs for a 5-0 advantage. The Belles continued to try to break into the scoring column. Sam Mikitka and Rylee Hershberger each tallied a hit in the fifth, and Caitlin Traxler added a hit in the sixth. McKenna Shoupe laced a double in the seventh. Each time, however, the Belles just missed out on the key hit to drive in a run in the 5-0 final.

 

McKenna Shoupe and McKenna Myers each went 2-for-3 in the opener as Shoupe collected a double. Rylee Hershberger, Caitlin Traxler, Alexis Rauch, and Sam Mikitka each had a hit for the Belles. Libby Bierbaum suffered the pitching loss in the circle after going four innings. Caitlin Traxler closed out the final two innings and struck out a pair.

 

Caitlin Traxler hit a two-out single before Libby Bierbaum drew a walk to put a pair on base in the bottom of the first of game two as Saint Mary's played as the home team in the conference twinbill. A hard-hit fielder's choice ended the chance for the Belles. The Brits used back-to-back doubles in the top of the second to push the game's first run across home plate.

 

Saint Mary's again put two runners on base in the bottom of the second. Sam Mikitka drew a walk before Mac Pepper beat out an infield single, but a pop up ended the inning for the Belles' bats. The defense came up with a key stop in the top of the third. The Brits loaded the bases with one out before Caitlin Traxler induced a come-back grounder and cut down the runner at home with the force out. Traxler then wrung up a strikeout to shut the door on the Brits. 

 

Libby Bierbaum got the offense going in the bottom of the third with a two-out single. McKenna Myers then drew a walk before Alexis Rauch drove in the pair with a double to left field. Sam Mikitka kept the two-out rally going with a single to right field to push Rauch across home from second. Maddie James added a hit of her own with a single to left field to induce a pitching change before the inning ended with the Belles up 3-1.

 

The defense continued to come up big as the Belles forced the Brits into stranding a pair on base in the top of the fourth. Rylee Hershberger drew a walk, and Caitlin Traxler hit a single to left field in the bottom half of the inning before consecutive outs ended the inning. 

 

Alexis Rauch kept the defensive plays rolling with a diving catch in foul territory to end the top of the fifth. Rauch then led off the bottom of the inning with a double before advancing to third on a passed ball. Sam Mikitka went the other way with a ground out to the right side of the infield to easily drive in Rauch on the play for a 4-1 lead. 

 

McKenna Shoupe made a diving catch of her own in center field to start the top of the sixth. Traxler added a strikeout with two runners on base, and Mac Pepper easily collected a fly out to force Albion into stranding a pair. McKenna Myers then got the first out of the seventh inning, and Traxler induced a come-back ground out with a runner on to get the force out at first. Pepper then closed out the win by reeling in another fly out in right field to preserve the 4-1 victory.

 

Alexis Rauch was 2-for-3 with two doubles, two runs scored, and two RBIs. Caitlin Traxler added a 2-for-4 effort at the dish. Libby Bierbaum, Sam Mikitka, Maddie James, and Mac Pepper each picked up a hit in the win. Mikitka drove in two runs, and Bierbaum and McKenna Myers each scored a run. Traxler earned the complete-game win in the circle with four strikeouts while scattering six hits over seven innings. 

 

The Belles (6-12, 1-1 MIAA) are back on their home field on Monday when they host Hope for a conference doubleheader starting at 3:00 p.m.