NOTRE DAME, Ind. - The Saint Mary's softball team had their home opener spoiled with 10-2 and 11-8 (8 innings) setbacks against Anderson on Tuesday afternoon.

 

The Ravens plated a pair of runs in the top of the second inning, but the Belles came right back with two runs in the bottom half of the frame. Libby Bierbaum drew a lead-off walk and moved up to second on a sacrifice bunt by McKenna Myers. A hard-hit single off the glove of the Anderson pitcher by Alexis Rauch put runners on the corners before Rauch swiped second base. Maddie James then dropped a single into center field two batters later to drive in the pair to knot the score. McKenna Shoupe added a single of her own to put two runners on base, but a ground out ended the scoring chance with the game tied 2-2.

 

Errors proved costly in the third inning as the Ravens capitalized on four miscues and scored two runs. Saint Mary's threatened to get back in the scoring column in the bottom of the third. Caitlin Traxler hit a one-out single, and Libby Bierbaum collected a single of her own to put a pair on base. A foul pop up was caught by the Anderson third baseman, and a groundout a batter later ended the chance. Neither team got any offense going in the fourth before Anderson used four hits in the top of the fifth to plate two more runs for the 6-2 lead. The Ravens pushed two more runs across in the sixth. McKenna Myers led off with a single in the bottom half of the inning, and Sam Mikitka drew a full-count, one-out walk to put a pair on base. The Belles, however, could not string together the plays needed to score. The Ravens added two runs in the top of the seventh, but Saint Mary's was unable to get a last-inning rally going as Mac Pepper was stranded after drawing a walk in the 10-2 final.

 

Seven different players registered a hit for the Belles in the opener. Mac Pepper and Libby Bierbaum were among that group of seven as the pair each drew a walk. Bierbaum scored once, and Alexis Rauch scored a run and stole a base along with her hit. Maddie James drove in two runs with a hit. Bierbaum shouldered the loss in the circle after going the distance.

 

Game two saw the Belles respond to a run in the top of the first by the Ravens with three runs in the bottom half of the inning. Rylee Hershberger laced a one-out double to left center before Caitlin Traxler used a double of her own to drive in Hershberger. Two batters later, McKenna Myers hit a single to put runners on the corners. After Myers stole second, Alexis Rauch singled to center field on a full count to drive in the pair and give Saint Mary's the 3-1 lead.

 

A three-up, three-down second inning defensively led to another run at the dish for the home side. McKenna Shoupe hit a one-out single and moved up to second on a wild pitch before a bunt by Morgan Flynn moved her to third. Rylee Hershberger then used a single to left field to drive in Shoupe. Traxler laced her second double of the game to put a pair into scoring position, but a fly out was collected by the Ravens to end the scoring chance. The defense got out of a jam in the third. Anderson used a single and a double to put runners on second and third with just one out gone. Sam Mikitka drew a pop up to Myers at shortstop before inducing a ground out to the junior shortstop to end the inning.

 

The Belles again retired the Ravens in order in the fourth. McKenna Shoupe then led off the inning with a single, and Morgan Flynn drew a walk to put a pair on base. Two batters later, Caitlin Traxler dropped a single into right field as Flynn moved to third and Shoupe scored. Libby Bierbaum then added a single to drive in Flynn for the 6-1 lead.

 

The Ravens plated a run in the fifth and shifted the momentum in a big way with a five-run outburst in the top of the sixth to go ahead 7-6. Flynn led off the bottom of the sixth with a single, and a sac bunt by Hershberger moved Flynn to second. Traxler posted her fourth hit of the game with a single, but the Belles were unable to advance Flynn and Traxler any further.

 

A big defensive stop in the top of the seventh reinvigorated the Saint Mary's side. After a lead-off double, a sacrifice bunt attempt by the Ravens was cut down as the Belles got both the batter out at first before the throw across the field cut down the runner moving from second to third. McKenna Shoupe then sniped a ball up the middle for a pop up out in the book at second base. Alexis Rauch then gave the Belles an even bigger boost as the sophomore belted a lead-off home run. Sophie Allen was hit by a pitch two batters later, McKenna Shoupe awalked, and Rylee Hershberger reached on an error to load the bases with two outs. The Belles were unable to push across the winning run, however, as the game moved to the eighth inning.  

 

The Ravens regained the momentum with a four-run outburst. McKenna Myers drove in Caitlin Traxler with a single, but back-to-back outs ended the inning and the game by the 11-8 final.

 

Caitlin Traxler went 4-for-5 with two doubles, two RBIs, and two runs scored. Alexis Rauch was 2-for-5 with a home run, three RBIs, and a run while McKenna Myers was 2-for-5 with a run and an RBI. Rylee Hershberger was 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI, and a run. McKenna Shoupe added a 2-for-3 effort at the plate with two runs scored and a walk. Morgan Flynn collected her first collegiate hit, drew a walk, and scored a run. Libby Bierbaum drove in a run for the Belles. Sam Mikitka had a no-decision in the circle after throwing the opening six innings and allowing only two earned runs. Traxler suffered the pitching loss after going the final two innings in relief despite not allowing an earned run.

 

The Belles (5-9) are back at home on Friday when they host North Park for a twinbill starting at 1:00 p.m.