ALBION, Mich. - Saint Mary's College Softball split their season finale double header with Albion College on Friday, falling game one, 5-4, and walking it off in game two in the ninth inning, 2-1. The Belles finish their season with a 10-20 (4-12 MIAA) record while the Britons move to 16-22 (5-9 MIAA) on the season.
Game One
Saint Mary's would get on the board first in the top of the second after a leadoff walk from freshman Hunter St. Peter (Traverse City, MI) and a steal, senior Alexis Rauch (Cassopolis, MI) would single to left field to bring her around to score. Albion would then tie the game in the bottom of the second.
The Britons would then take the lead in the bottom of the fourth, scoring two runs. But the Belles would come right back in the top of the fifth, after a two out single from freshman Talia Jorgensen (St. Paul, MN) and pinch-hit walk from freshman Maddi Duncan (Sarasota, FL), freshman Gia Schiavone (Poland, OH) would double to left center field, bringing both Jorgensen and Duncan home to tie the game. But Albion would stay hot offensively, adding two more runs in the bottom of the fifth to take the lead back.
The Belles would threaten in the top of the seventh, down by two. A leadoff single from sophomore Madi Ingolia (Lemont, IL) and a walk from junior Sophie Allen (Osceola, IN) and a fielder's choice from Jorgensen, sophomore Laura Heim (Howards Grove, WI) would hit a sacrifice fly to bring Ingolia in to score and move Jorgensen into scoring position. But the Belles would be shut down and fall in the first game of the double header, 5-4.
Jorgensen and Racuh would lead the team with two hits each while Schiavone and Ingolia would record the other two. Schiavone would also lead with two RBI's and a double.
Freshman Faith Dean (Monroe, MI) would be the pitcher of record, throwing four innings and allowing five runs on seven hits and striking out two batters. Freshman Ashlyn Yeo (Jackson, MI) would throw the final two innings, allowing just two hits and striking out one.
Game Two
Both teams would struggle to get on the board in game two, but Saint Mary's would take an early 1-0 lead in the third inning. After a one out triple by freshman Lydia Hinga (Portage, MI), Jorgensen would single to left center to bring her around to score. These would be the Belles only two hits until the ninth inning.
Albion would tie the ball game in the top of the seventh to send the Belles into their first extra inning game of the season.
After a leadoff double from Jorgensen, she would advance to third after Schiavone was called out. With two outs, junior Sam Mikitka (Naperville, IL) stepped into the box and laced a single back up the middle, bringing Jorgensen in to score and winning the game for the Belles.
Jorgensen would lead the team with two hits while Mikitka and Hinga recorded the other two. Jorgensen and Mikitka would have the two RBI's
Mikitka would throw a stellar game in the circle, throwing all nine innings in a complete game performance, allowing just one run on nine hits while getting out of five innings with runners left on base, including two runners left on in the top of the ninth!
SEASON RECAP
Saint Mary's ends their first season under first year Head Coach Jordyn Walter with a 10-22 overall record while finishing with a 4-12 MIAA record. The Belles earned their first win under Walter on March 11 against New England College, 7-4, in Kissimmee, FL, this win would also start a 5-game win streak for the Belles, leaving Florida with a 5-5 record. They would then get their first conference win in the third conference game of the season, taking down the University of Olivet, 10-4, then backing it up with another win over the Comets, 8-3. They end their season going 2-2 in their final four games, including a win over Hope College, 5-2, and the walkoff over Albion.