NOTRE DAME, Ind. - The Saint Mary's softball team was unable to get a much-needed timely hit on both sides of 4-2 and 8-0 (5 innings) setbacks against visiting University of Chicago on Friday evening.

 

The defense forced Chicago into stranding a pair of runners on base in the top of the first inning. McKenna Shoupe then laced a lead-off single to right-center field on the first pitch she saw. Mac Pepper used a sacrifice bunt to move Shoupe into scoring position before Caitlin Traxler drew a walk. A fielder's choice cut Shoupe down at third on a force out, and a grounder ended the chance. The Maroons got on the scoreboard with an unearned run in the top of the second inning. Alexis Rauch led off the bottom of the inning with a double, and a misplayed ball saw Rylee Hershberger reach base safely. Sam Mikitka drew a full-count walk to load the bases, but the Belles were unable to push a run across after three consecutive outs ended the inning. 

 

Chicago added three runs in the top of the third inning to gain a 4-0 lead. The Belles broke into the scoring column in the bottom half of the inning. Libby Bierbaum hit a one-out double to left field, and Alexis Rauch had a single go up the middle with two outs. Rylee Hershberger then hit an infield single to plate Bierbaum to make it a three-run game. The Belles put two runners on base in the fourth but were unable to add to their run total. Bierbaum tallied a strikeout looking on the defensive side to end the top of the fifth, and McKenna Myers led off the bottom of the inning with a home run to left-center field. Saint Mary's, however, was unable to complete the comeback effort in the 4-2 final.

 

Alexis Rauch went 3-for-3 in game one with a double and a walk. McKenna Myers was 1-for-4 with a home run. Libby Bierbaum had a 1-for-4 effort at the plate with a double and a run. Rylee Hershberger collected a hit and an RBI. Mac Pepper and McKenna Shoupe each posted a hit, and Caitlin Traxler drew two walks. Bierbaum went the distance in the circle and struck out three.

 

Chicago jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning of game two and added another run in the top of the second. Saint Mary's had a chance to cause some damage in the bottom of the second. Alexis Rauch drew a one-out walk, and Rylee Hershberger bounced a single up the middle. Sam Mikita then drew a walk to load the bases. Consecutive outs, however, saw the Belles leave three runners on base to end the inning. A pair of walks on either side of a fielder's choice in the bottom of the third put Caitlin Traxler and Libby Bierbaum on base with one out gone. Back-to-back outs stopped Saint Mary's short in their scoring effort in the third. Chicago plated another run in the fourth and added three runs in the fifth for an 8-0 advantage. Needing at least one run to keep the game alive, the Belles looked to put a two-out rally together in the bottom of the fifth. Mac Pepper dropped down a one-out bunt single, and Libby Bierbaum reached on an error two batters later. McKenna Myers kept the rally effort going with a two-out single to left field, but a fly out ended the chance and the game in the 8-0 final.

 

Mac Pepper went 2-for-2 with a walk in game two. McKenna Myers and Rylee Hershberger each added a hit. Sam Mikitka shouldered the loss after going four complete with a strikeout. Caitlin Traxler threw an inning and tallied a strikeout in the circle. 

 

The Belles (7-17) are back to conference competition when they travel to Adrian tomorrow for an MIAA doubleheader starting at 2:00 p.m.