MELBOURNE, Fla. - Saint Mary's College Softball split their games on the second day of the The Space Coast Spring Games at the USSSA Space Coast Complex. The Belles fell to Marietta College, 5-3, and defeated Emerson College in the night cap, 4-3. The Belles move to 3-7 on the season.

Saint Mary's vs Marietta

Both teams started slow offensively before Marietta got the scoring started with two runs in the third and one in the fourth. Saint Mary's bounced back in the top of the fifth inning to cut the deficit to one. Sophomore Arianna Vazquez (Carol Stream, IL) led off the inning with a double to left field and was then pinch run for by junior Adele Zurek (Middlebury, IN). Senior Sam Mikitka (Naperville, IL) drew a walk before sophomore Lydia Hinga (Portage, MI) doubled to center field to bring Zurek around to score and advance Mikitka. Miktika then scored off a ground out for junior Allie Moss (Goshen, IN).

But as the Belles cut the deficit to one, the Pioneers added to their lead with two runs in the bottom half of the fifth. Saint Mary's tried to mount their comeback in the seventh as Hinga started off the inning reaching on an error. After a bunt single from Moss, sophomore Maddi Duncan (Sarasota, FL) hit an RBI single to the right side to bring Hinga around to score. That would be all she wrote for the Belles after a fly out and pop out ended the game, giving the Pioneers a 5-3 win.

Hinga, Vazquez, and freshman Maggie Voliva (Saint John, IN) all tallied two hits on the game while three other Belles added one. Moss, Duncan, and Hinga all added an RBI while Mikitka and Hinga came around to score. Saint Mary's totalled three doubles on the game from Hinga, Vazquez, and sophomore Katie Hans (Novi, MI).

In the circle, junior Sammy Schrader (Romeoville, IL) started for the Belles, throwing three and two third innings, allowing six hits and three runs while striking out one. Mikitka added two and one third inning while allowing just one hit and one earned run while striking out two.

Saint Mary's vs Emerson

The first two innings started slow for both teams before Emerson scored in the top of the third inning off a throwing error. Saint Mary's bounced back with a run of their own in the bottom half, after sophomore Talia Jorgensen (St. Paul, MN) walked to lead off the inning before stealing two bags and coming in to score after freshman Isabelle Hochmuth (St. Louis, MO) reached on a field error.

The Belles came back with another run in the bottom of the fourth. After a leadoff single for sophomore Emma Luther (New Carlisle, IN), who was then pinch run for by sophomore Mary Gamble (Columbus, OH), was followed up by a single from Hinga and a fielder's choice reach for Jorgensen. Moss then singles to right field to bring Gamble around to score and give the Belles the lead. The Lions came back with a run of their own in the top of the fifth inning to tie the game at two. 

After a quiet fifth for Saint Mary's, the Belles bounced back in the bottom of the sixth inning. Mikitka reached on a throwing error to lead off the inning before Hinga singled. The two advanced on a wild pitch before freshman Ella Kucala (Monee, IL) hit a pinch hit sacrifice fly to bring Mikitka home and give the Belles the lead again. Hinga would advance to third on another wild pitch before Moss would ground out to the right side to allow Hinga to come in to score and extend the lead. Saint Mary's threatened again after freshman Molly Ryan (Joliet, IL) hit a pinch hit ground rule double and Hochmuth walked, but they couldn't add to the lead.

After a leadoff walk for the Lions, the runner found their way home after a steal and wild pitch and coming home on a single to cut the deficit to one. Mikitka locked in and got a strikeout and fly out to end the game and snap the Belles losing streak.

Hinga and sophomore Hunter St. Peter (Traverse City, MI) both tallied two hits while five other Belles added one. Jorgensen, Gamble, Mikitka, and Hinga all came around to score while Moss added two RBIs and Kucala added one. On the bases, Saint Mary's swiped seven bags as Jorgensen and Moss added two while Ryan, Hochmuth, and St. Peter added one.

In the circle, sophomore Ashlyn Yeo (Jackson, MI) started strong with four innings, allowing seven hits and one unearned run while striking out two batters. Mikitka finished off the final three innings, allowing two runs on three hits and striking out one.

UP NEXT FOR THE BELLES

Saint Mary's continues their Florida trip with six more games over the next four days. The Belles will take on Wilmington College and St. Catherine University on Wednesday, an off day on Thursday, Franciscan University and Fitchburg State University on Friday, and closing it out on Saturday against Rutgers University-Newark and St. Norbert College.