ANDERSON, Ind. - The Saint Mary's softball team took a 10-3 win in game one before falling 5-1 in game two against Anderson on Wednesday afternoon.

 

The host Ravens posted a run in the bottom of the first inning of game one for an early lead. The score remained unchanged until the top of the fourth. Caitlin Traxler drew a one-out walk, and back-to-back singles by Rylee Hershberger and Libby Bierbaum loaded the bases. A force-out fielder's choice to get Hershberger out at third while Traxler came in to score. A fly out ended the inning with the score deadlocked at 1-1.

 

Saint Mary's retired Anderson in order in the bottom of the fourth and got back to work on the offensive side. Leah Zimmerman led off with a single, and Madi Ingolia added a single to put a pair on base. A fly out by Mary Charniak allowed both runners to tag up on the play. McKenna Shoupe then forced the defensive hand of the Ravens as an infield single then led to a throwing error by the pitcher, which allowed both Zimmerman and Ingolia to score on the play.

The Ravens made it a one-run game with a two-out RBI triple in the fifth, but the Belles cut down a runner at the plate on a solid relay to maintain the lead. Saint Mary's put a pair of runners on base in the top of the sixth while Anderson had a runner on base in the bottom half of that frame, but neither side pushed any runners across.

 

In the top of the seventh, the Belles' offense exploded for seven runs to take control of the game. Mary Charniak led off with a single, and McKenna Shoupe drew a walk. Caitlin Traxler easily drove in the pair - who had moved into scoring position - with a double to center field. A one-out walk by Libby Bierbaum was followed by a two-out, two-RBI single by Sophie Allen as Traxler and Bierbaum both scored. Leah Zimmerman kept things going with an infield single, and a double-steal turned error saw Allen score. Kennedy Cornett then drew a walk, and Charniak was hit by a pitch in her second plate appearance of the inning to load the bases. McKenna Shoupe was hit by a pitch to bring Zimmerman in to score, and Caitlin Traxler drew a walk to plate Cornett as the Belles took a commanding 10-2 lead into the bottom of the seventh.

 

The Ravens scored an early run and had two runners on base before Libby Bierbaum closed out the game with a strikeout to preserve the win.

 

Leah Zimmerman went 3-for-4 with two runs in game one. Caitlin Traxler hit a double, drove in three runs, scored twice, and drew two walks in the win. McKenna Shoupe and Sophie Allen each had a hit with two runs batted in and a run scored. Shoupe, Allen, Zimmerman, and Libby Bierbaum each stole a base for the Belles. Sam Mikitka added an RBI, and Mary Charniak and Madi Ingolia each had a hit and scored a run. Rylee Hershberger tallied a hit, and Kennedy Cornett scored a run. Bierbaum earned the complete-game win in the circle with two strikeouts.

 

Both sides were retired in order in the first inning before the Ravens threatened to get on the scoreboard in the second. A one-out triple went for naught as Sophie Allen pulled in a foul pop up behind the plate before Caitlin Traxler wrung up a strikeout to end the inning.

 

The two teams again were retired in order in the third. McKenna Shoupe hit a double down the left field line with one out, but the Belles were unable to inflict any damage in the top of the fourth. The Ravens used four hits, including back-to-back doubles, and an error in the bottom of the fourth.

Saint Mary's had a chance to get on the scoreboard in the top of the fifth. Sophie Allen got a two-out rally effort going by reaching on an error, and a single by Leah Zimmerman coupled with another error put runners on the corners. Zimmerman stole second to put two runners into scoring position, but the Belles ewre unable to capitalize on the miscues as an infield ground out ended the inning. The defense, meanwhile, kept the Belles right in the mix. A two-out double and single followed by a stolen base for the Ravens put two runners into scoring position in the bottom of the fifth. Caitlin Traxler induced a pop up to McKenna Myers at first base to shut the door on the Anderson scoring chance.

 

The Belles broke into the scoring column in the top of the sixth. Mary Charniak led off with a double and moved to third on a wild pitch. McKenna Shoupe then put down the sacrifice bunt to drive in Charniak to get Saint Mary's on the scoreboard. Rylee Hershberger kept the inning alive two batters later with a double, but the Belles were unable to keep the offense going in the inning. The Ravens, meanwhile, countered with a two-out RBI single in the bottom of the sixth to go up 5-1. Down to the final at-bats, Leah Zimmerman kept the inning and game alive with a two-out single through the right side. A line-drive out, however, closed out the 5-1 final in game two.

 

Leah Zimmerman went 2-for-3 with a stolen base in game two for the Belles. Mary Charniak had a double and scored a run, McKenna Shoupe hit a double and drove in a run, and Rylee Hershberger also tagged a double. Caitlin Traxler went the distance in the circle in game two with three strikeouts and no walks.

 

The Belles (9-21) conclude the season on Thursday when they host Albion for a conference doubleheader starting at 3:00 p.m. The five seniors on the team will be recognized after the conclusion of game two.