Belles Earn Pair of Wins to Kick Off Florida Trip

Scranton Box Score - North Park Box Score

• Cassie Young went 3-for-3 with an RBI and Makenzie Duncan drove in a pair with a triple against Scranton.
• Jamie Young and Sydney Swartz each posted 3-for-4 efforts at the dish with a double and two singles against North Park.
• Morgan Raymer and Mary Green each earned a pitching win in the circle.

LEESBURG, Fla. - The Saint Mary's softball team claimed a 3-1 victory against Scranton and won a decisive 13-5 (5 innings) contest against North Park on their first day of competition in the PFX Spring Games in Florida.

In the opener, Scranton claimed a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning after the Belles stranded a runner in scoring position in the bottom of the second inning.

The score remained unchanged until the bottom of the sixth inning. Sydney Swartz hit a lead-off double and moved to third on a bunt single by Jamie Young. Young then stole second to put a pair in scoring position. Swartz was tagged out on a squeeze bunt attempt by Kelsey Keilman, but the Belles still had two runners aboard. Makenzie Duncan delivered a big triple to plate both Young and Keilman to give Saint Mary's a 2-1 lead. Cassie Young then hit an infield single to plate Duncan for the 3-1 advantage.

The run support was more than enough for Morgan Raymer as the senior retired the side in order in the top of the seventh with a pop up, a strikeout looking, and a fly out to secure the win.

Cassie Young went 3-for-3 with an RBI and Makenzie Duncan drove in a pair with a triple. Jamie Young and Kelsey Keilman each scored a run. Morgan Raymer went the distance in the circle with eight strikeouts, no walks, and one extra-base hit with no earned runs.

After plating a run in the top of the first, the Belles erupted for 12 runs in the second inning against North Park in game two to take control early. Saint Mary's sent 17 batters to the plate in the second inning. The 12 runs were scored on 12 hits, a walk, a hit batter, and no errors. Among the hits in the inning were a three-run home run by Makenzie Duncan, a two-run double by Jamie Young, and a two-run single by Jamie Young.

North Park put a run on the scoreboard in the third and four in the fifth, but the Vikings were unable to keep the game alive. Mary Green closed out the win with a ground out and a strikeout looking.

Jamie Young and Sydney Swartz each posted 3-for-4 efforts at the dish with a double and two singles. Young drove in four runs and scored three times, and Swartz scored twice while driving in one. Makenzie Duncan hammered a three-run home run and was 2-for-2 in the win. Mary Green earned the victory for the Belles after four innings of relief work. The senior struck out two and walked none. Jessica Alberts had the start and pitched one inning, struck out one, and walked one.

The Belles (6-0) return to action on Monday when they face Southern Maine and Lakeland at the Sleepy Hollow Softball Complex in Leesburg, Florida, at 2:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.