HOLLAND, Mich. - Saint Mary's College Softball split their double header with Hope College on Wednesday, taking game one, 5-2, and falling game two, 11-4. The Belles move to 9-19 (3-11 MIAA) while the Flying Dutch move to 19-15 (7-7 MIAA).

Game One

The first four innings were quiet for both teams as pitching dominated earlier. Freshman Faith Dean (Monroe, MI) would sit down the first 10 batters she faced while allowing just one base runner in her first four innings of work.

Saint Mary's would get on the board first in the top of the fifth inning. Senior Alexis Rauch (Cassopolis, MI) would get on with a lead off double to kick off the inning before freshman Lydia Hinga (Portage, MI) and sophomore Madi Ingolia (Lemont, IL) would hit back-to-back singles to load the bases. Junior Leah Zimmerman (Huntertown, IN) would reach on a fielder's choice, as Ruach would be out at home, before freshman Talia Jorgensen (St. Paul, MN) would triple down the left field line past a diving defender to bring all three runners around to score, giving the Belles a 3-0 lead. 

Hope would come out and add two runs in the bottom of the sixth after back-to-back RBI singles, but the Saint Mary's offense wouldn't shy away. After a leadoff single from Ingolia, Zimmerman would bunt her over to second before Jorgensen would follow with a single of her own. After Jorgensen would steal second, freshman Maddi Duncan (Sarasota, FL) would pinch hit for the Belles, reaching on a fielding error by the third baseman, allowing both Ingolia and Jorgensen to come around to score, extending the lead to 5-2. 

The Flying Dutch would try to mount a comeback in the seventh inning, but freshman Ashlyn Yeo (Jackson, MI) would get three ground outs in the inning to secure the win for the Belles. 

Jorgensen, Rauch, and Ingolia would lead the Belles at the dish in game one, each recording two hits while Rauch and Jorgensen each had extra base hits. Junior Sam Mikitka (Naperville, IL) and Hinga would also add singles. Jorgensen would also add three RBI's to lead the game.

Dean would get her sixth win of the season, allowing two runs on four hits in five innings of work. Yeo would record her first save of the season, throwing two innings and allowing just three hits.

Game Two

Hope would take an early 1-0 lead in the top of the second before the Belles got their bats going in the bottom half. After a leadoff hit by pitch then a fielding error, Zimmerman would reach on a fielder's choice, bringing Hinga around to score from third. After a single from sophomore Laura Heim (Howards Grove, WI) would advance Zimmerman to second, freshman Gia Schiavone (Poland, OH) would double to center field, bringing Zimmerman around to score.

The Hope bats would get hot and they would never look back after retaking the lead in the top of the fourth. The Flying Dutch would score two runs in the fourth and fifth innings before adding three runs in the sixth and seventh innings. Saint Mary's would try to mount a comeback in the bottom of the seventh, with runners on second and third, Ingolia would reach on an error allowing Dean to come in to score. Zimmerman would single in the next at bat to bring Rauch around to score but that would be the end for the Belles.

Jorgensen and Heim would lead the team with two hits each while Schiavone, freshman Hunter St. Peter (Traverse City, MI), Rauch, and Zimmerman would all add hits while freshman Katie Hans (Novi, MI) would get a pinch hit single in the fifth. Schiavone would double in the second.

Saint Mary's would use all four pitchers in game two, Mikitka would be the pitcher of record, allowing five runs on eight hits in 4.1 innings. Yeo would allow one hit in 0.2 innings of work while sophomore Sammy Schrader (Romeoville, IL) would three runs on four hits in one inning and Dean would allow three runs on three hits in one inning of work.

UP NEXT FOR THE BELLES

Saint Mary's concludes their season with a trip to Albion, MI to take on Albion College on Friday, May 2, with a double header starting at 3pm.