WINTER HAVEN, Fla. - The Saint Mary's softball team came up just short in a 10-9 (9 innings) game against Augsburg before falling 10-9 against Benedictine to start the season on Sunday.

 

In the opener against Augsburg, the Auggies used a two-run homer in the top of the first for a quick 2-0 lead. Mac Pepper hit a one-out single, and Rylee Hershberger followed with a single of her own. Caitlin Traxler then drove in Pepper, but back-to-back outs ended the scoring chance early. Each team plated a run in the third inning as Traxler continued to have a hot bat for the Belles as she drove in Hershberger with an RBI single. The two teams matched scoring outputs again in the fifth and sixth innings with two and three runs, respectively. Libby Bierbaum hit a two-out, two-RBI double in the bottom of the fifth to plate Hershberger and Traxler. In the sixth, Traxler drew a bases loaded walk to plate McKenna Shoupe, and Bierbaum came through with another key hit with an RBI single to make it an 8-5 game. Sam Mikitka then drew a bases loaded walk of her own to score Hershberger and pull the Belles within one. McKenna Shoupe reached first on an error to start the seventh inning, and a ball hit by Mac Pepper two batters later was misplayed to allow Shoupe to come in to score the tying run. The Belles were unable to push across the game-winner as the contest went into extra innings. 

 

With the international tiebreak rule in effect, teams started each extra inning with a runner on second base. The Auggies pushed across a run in the top of the eighth, but the Belles responded right back as Caitlin Traxler scored on a sacrifice fly by Libby Bierbaum. Augsburg again plated their runner from second in the top of the ninth. The Belles, however, were unable to move Calla Blank past second in the 10-9 final.

 

Caitlin Traxler was 3-for-4 with three RBI, two runs, and a double in the first game. Rylee Hershberger went 2-for-4 with three runs scored, and Libby Bierbaum added a 2-for-4 effort with a double and four RBI. McKenna Shoupe scored twice while Alexis Rauch and Mac Pepper each scored once. Bierbaum suffered the pitching loss after going the distance while allowing four earned runs with six strikeouts over nine innings.

 

Against Benedictine, the Belles got on the scoreboard in the top of the first inning. Mac Pepper hit a lead-off single, and Caitlin Traxler laced a one-out double to put the pair in scoring position. Alexis Rauch drove in Pepper with a sacrifice fly. A McKenna Myers single put runners on the corners, but the Belles were unable to inflict any further damage in the first frame. The Eagles used a two-out single to plate a run in the bottom of the first to knot the game at a run apiece. Saint Mary's came right back with two runs in the top of the second. With the bases loaded and two outs gone, Traxler delivered a two-RBI single to right-center field to drive in Maddie James and McKenna Shoupe. The Belles added another run in the third inning on a solo home run by Libby Bierbaum.

 

Benedictine took the momentum after capitalizing on errors by the Saint Mary's defense as the Eagles plated six runs - all of which were unearned - in the fourth to gain a 7-4 lead. Another run in the bottom of the fifth put Benedictine up 8-4. Undeterred, the Belles battled right back with a huge five-run sixth inning. Mandi Hettinger and Maddie James each had a single, and an error by the Eagles on a ball hit by McKenna Shoupe loaded the bases. Mac Pepper then reached on an error as everyone advanced 60 feet with Hettinger scoring on the play. Rylee Hershberger hit a single to center field, which was then misplayed by the center fielder as James, Shoupe, and Pepper all came in to score while Hershberger moved to third on the error. Caitlin Traxler then drove in Hershberger with an infield out as the Belles pulled ahead 9-8. The Eagles again took advantage of miscues by the Belles in the bottom of the sixth and plated two unearned runs to regain the lead at 10-9. Saint Mary's was unable to put together a late rally and fell just short in the 10-9 contest.

 

Traxler was 2-for-4 with three RBI and a double against Benedictine. Mandi Hettinger added a 2-for-2 effort with a run, and Maddie James tallied a hit and scored twice. Mac Pepper had a hit, scored two runs, drew a walk, and drove in a run in the lead-off spot for the Belles. Rylee Hershberger tallied two RBI, a hit, and a run, and Libby Bierbaum hit a home run. Mandi Hettinger had the pitching loss in the circle in a relief appearance while surrendering just one earned run. Sam Mikitka had a no-decision after going the opening four innings and allowing only one earned run with a strikeout.

 

Day two of action in Florida begins on Monday at 2:00 p.m. against Ramapo before a 4:30 p.m. game against Minnesota-Morris.