NOTRE DAME, Ind. - The Saint Mary's softball team used 9-5 and 6-4 wins over Manchester on Friday afternoon to earn their second doubleheader sweep of the week.

 

The visiting Spartans used a two-out effort in their first at-bats to jump out to a 4-0 lead through the first half-inning of play. The Belles, however, came right back with a big effort of their own in the bottom of the first. McKenna Shoupe drew a four-pitch walk, and Mac Pepper drew a walk of her own to put a pair on base. Caitlin Traxler then laced a double to the outfield to push Shoupe across home plate. An error on a ball hit by Libby Bierbaum saw Mac Pepper score, and another error allowed Caitlin Traxler to score as the Belles edged within 4-3.

 

Manchester plated another run in the top of the second inning for a 5-3 lead, but Saint Mary's again had an immediate response. Maddie James led off with a walk, and McKenna Shoupe dropped a single in left-center field. Mac Pepper drew a full-count walk to load the bases. A mis-thrown ball during Libby Bierbaum's at-bat allowed James to score as the bases remained full. McKenna Myers then punched a single down the right field line as Shoupe and Pepper both scored to give the Belles a 6-5 lead. Alexis Rauch drove in Libby Bierbaum with a sacrifice fly, and the Belles carried a 7-5 lead into the third inning.

 

The defense shut down the Spartans in the third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh innings. Manchester put two runners on base in the top of the fifth with no outs. Bierbaum then induced a pop up on a sacrifice bunt attempt which was caught in foul territory behind the plate by Calla Blank. McKenna Myers got the lead runner out with a play to her right for the force out at third, and McKenna Shoupe reeled in a fly ball in center field to end the inning. In the sixth, the Belles forced the Spartans into stranding a runner on third base. Saint Mary's struck quickly in the bottom of the inning. Mac Pepper reached base on an infield single with one out, and Caitlin Traxler drove a full-count pitch over the center field fence for a 9-5 lead. The Belles then retired the Spartans in order in the top of the seventh to close out the win.

 

McKenna Myers went 3-for-4 in game one with a double and two RBIs. Caitlin Traxler posted a 2-for-4 effort with a double, a home run, two runs, and three RBIs. Mac Pepper posted a hit, drew two walks, and scored three runs. Mckenna Shoupe added a hit, a walk, and two runs. Libby Bierbaum drove in two runs and scored once, and Maddie James scored a run. Bierbaum earned the complete-game victory with three strikeouts over seven innings of work.

 

Saint Mary's plated two runs in the bottom of the first inning of game two. McKenna Shoupe had a lead-off walk, and Mac Pepper legged out a bunt single as Shoupe advanced to third. An errant throw during Caitlin Traxler's at-bat allowed Shoupe to score on the play. Two batters later, Libby Bierbaum punched a grounder the opposite way to drive in Pepper from third for the 2-0 lead. 

 

Manchester put a pair of runners on base before a single drove in the Spartans' first run of game two. Mac Pepper came up with a big diving catch in foul territory to record the second out of the inning, and Sam Mikitka shut the door on a bases loaded chance by inducing a ground out to end the inning. As they had all day, the Belles responded in the bottom half of the inning. An error and a single saw Alexis Rauch and Rylee Hershberger safely reach base, and Mikitka drew a walk to load the bases. Two batters later, McKenna Shoupe raced her way to a double to drive in both Hershberger and Mikitka. An error kept the inning alive and added to the Belles' run total with Shoupe scoring for a 5-1 lead.

 

The defense forced Manchester into stranding a runner in the third and the fourth innings. The Spartans made it a 5-2 game with a run in the top of the fifth before Mac Pepper tracked down a deep fly ball in left-center field for a catch at the warning track to end the inning. McKenna Myers then led off with a triple off the right field line before Rylee Hershberger used a sacrifice fly to plate Myers for a 6-2 lead. The Spartans made a push for a comeback in the top of the seventh with a pair of runs. A fly out to Shoupe and a comeback-snag by Mikitka in the circle, however, shut the door on that comeback idea and secured the 6-4 win.

 

Rylee Hershberger was 2-for-2 with a double, a run, and an RBI in the nightcap. Mckenna Shoupe had a hit, drove in two runs, and scored twice. Sam Mikitka, McKenna Myers, and Mac Pepper each had a hit and scored a run with Myers posting the first triple of her collegiate career. Mikitka went the distance in the circle and struck out three with just one walk in the complete-game win.

 

The Belles (11-23) close out the 2023 season on Saturday when they travel to Calvin for a conference doubleheader starting at 1:00 p.m.