Belles Take Down Spartans, Zache Martin Collects Win 100

Game One Box Score - Game Two Box Score

• Cassie Young went 3-for-4 with two home runs, a single, seven RBI, and two runs scored, and Jamie Young was 2-for-4 with a home run, two runs scored, and four RBI in game one.
• Makenzie Duncan went 3-for-4 with two doubles, two runs scored, and three RBI while Cassie Young added a 2-for-4 effort with an RBI and a run scored while collecting her 200th career hit in game two.
• Morgan Raymer and Jessica Alberts each earned a pitching victory in the twinbill.

NORTH MANCHESTER, Ind. - The Saint Mary's softball team powered their way to 14-4 (6 innings) and 8-0 (6 innings) wins over Manchester on Monday evening to give head coach Kelli Zache Martin her 100th career coaching win with the Belles.

The Belles jumped on the scoreboard in the top of the first inning in a big way as Cassie Young blasted a three-run home run to center field. Manchester got a run back in the bottom of the third inning with a pair of singles sandwiched around a walk and a ground out. Saint Mary's came back with two runs in the top of the fifth inning. Alyssa Gutierrez drew a lead-off walk, Jamie Young beat out a bunt single, and the pair both stole a base to get into scoring position. A fielder's choice by Kelsey Keilman loaded the bases, and Cassie Young drove in Gutierrez two batters later with a single to center field. Madelynne Keller then drove in Jamie Young with a sacrifice fly to give Saint Mary's a 5-1 edge.

The Spartans cut into the Belles' lead with two runs in the bottom half of the fifth, but Saint Mary's put the game well out of reach with a big nine-run sixth inning. The Belles sent 15 batters to the plate in the sixth and hit through the order once before recording an out as each of the first nine batters of the inning scored. Jamie Young got the scoring started with a three-run homer to center field. A Kelsey Keilman single followed by a walk by Makenzie Duncan put two on base, and Cassie Young followed her twin sister's lead with a three-run home run to center field. JoAnna Keilman added a double two batters later, and a Kelsey Richards walk loaded the bases with Keller on third. Jamie Young was hit by a pitch, and Makenzie Duncan drew a bases loaded walk to plate two more runs.

The Spartans plated a run in the sixth, but Zoe Bruni closed out the game with a strike out looking as the Belles took the opener 14-4 in six innings.

Cassie Young went 3-for-4 with two home runs, a single, seven RBI, and two runs scored. Jamie Young was 2-for-4 with a home run, two runs scored, and four RBI. Kelsey Keilman and JoAnna Keilman each added a hit in the win.

Morgan Raymer collected the pitching win after going five complete innings and striking out three. Zoe Bruni closed out the final inning with a strike out.

The offense was kept off the scoreboard early in game two, but the Belles broke through with four runs in the third and three runs in the fourth to take command in the nightcap. Alyssa Gutierrez reached on an error, and Jamie Young moved her to second with a sacrifice bunt. Krystal Harris laced a single to left-center to put runners on the corners, and Makenzie Duncan drove in Gutierrez with a single up the middle. Cassie Young then singled to center field to load the bases. Two batters later, Sydney Swartz delivered a big two-out, three-run double to center field to put the Belles up 4-0.

In the fourth inning, Jamie Young started a two-out rally with a single to left field. Harris picked up her second single in as many at-bats while driving in Young from second base. Makenzie Duncan doubled to center field to trade places with Harris, who had moved to second on an error. Cassie Young then drove in Duncan with her 200th career hit to give Saint Mary's the 7-0 advantage.

The defense came up with the needed plays in the fifth inning to keep the Spartans from getting on the scoreboard. Alyssa Gutierrez collected a ground out at third, and Kelsey Richards made a stop at second base to cut down a runner on a fielder's choice as Manchester moved a runner to third. Krystal Harris then caught a fly out down the left field line to end the inning.

The Belles went ahead 8-0 with a run in the top of the sixth. Emma Conroy hit a pinch hit, lead-off double to left-center field. With two outs gone, Makenzie Duncan then drove in Conroy with a double of her own to put Saint Mary's ahead by the mercy rule margin. Jessica Alberts made quick work of the bottom of the sixth with a three-up, three-down inning for the win.

Makenzie Duncan went 3-for-4 with two doubles, two runs scored, and three RBI. Cassie Young added a 2-for-4 effort with an RBI and a run scored while collecting her 200th career hit. Krystal Harris was 2-for-3 with two runs and an RBI. Kelsey Richards went 2-for-3 at the dish, and Sydney Swartz drove in three runs with a double.

Jessica Alberts went the distance in the circle en route to her second consecutive complete game shutout. The senior struck out one and allowed just two hits - both singles - in the fifth inning.

The Belles (18-2) open up conference play on Saturday when they travel to Albion for a 1:00 p.m. MIAA doubleheader.