NOTRE DAME, Ind. - Saint Mary's College Softball fell in their MIAA opening double header with Kalamazoo College on Friday night, 4-0 in game one and 6-3 in game two. The Belles fall to 9-13 (0-2 MIAA) on the year while the Hornets improve to 3-17 (2-0 MIAA).
 
Game One
Kalamazoo got their offense going in the first inning with a sacrifice fly to score the first run of the game. They then added three more runs in the top of the second inning.
 
Both teams would go quiet from innings three to seven as pitching reigned supreme in the first game of the late night double header. 
 
Offensively, four Belles tallied a hit each while the team also drew two walks. Freshman Maggie Voliva (Saint John, IN) added a double as well.
 
In the circle, sophomore Ashlyn Yeo (Jackson, MI) was the pitcher of record, allowing four runs on three hits in two innings of work. Senior Sam Mikitka (Naperville, IL) shined out of the bullpen, throwing five shutout innings in relief and allowing just three hits in the game.
 
Game Two
After a slow first innings, the Belles got on the board for the first time in the top of the second. After a leadoff single from freshman Isabelle Hochmuth (St. Louis, MO), Mikitka reached on an error by the first baseman, allowing Hochmuth to advance to third. With two outs in the inning, sophomore Emma Luther (New Carlisle, IN) singled back up the middle, bringing Hochmuth in to score.
 
The Hornets would respond with a single run in each of the next four innings and two in the sixth to take a 6-1 lead.
 
Saint Mary's began their late comeback in the seventh after back-to-back singles from sophomore Hunter St. Peter (Traverse City, MI) and Luther to put two runners on. Freshman Molly Ryan (Joliet, IL) laid down a beautiful sacrifice bunt to advance the runners before junior Allie Moss (Goshen, IN) grounded out to bring St. Peter in to score. Sophomore Talia Jorgensen (St. Paul, MN) then tripled to center field to bring sophomore Mary Gamble (Columbus, OH), who was pinch running for Luther, in to score. But the Hornets shut down the final out of the game to secure the sweep.
 
Luther led the team offensively with two hits in game two while Jorgensen tripled while Voliva and sophomore Maddi Duncan (Sarasota, FL) doubled.
 
In the circle, sophomore Aubrey Zachary (Granger, IN) was the pitcher of record in her first appearance of the season, throwing three innings and allowing two runs on four hits and striking out two batters. Junior Sammy Schrader (Romeoville, IL) came in relief, throwing one and two thirds innings, allowing one earned run on three hits. Mikitka closed out the night with one and a third inning, allowing two runs on four hits.
 
UP NEXT FOR THE BELLES
Saint Mary's continues MIAA play on the road on Tuesday, April 7, with a trip to Calvin University. The Belles then play a quick non-conference double header at Manchester University on Thursday, April 9, before returning home for back-to-back series with the University of Olivet, April 11, and Trine University, April 15.