Offensive Outburst Bolsters Belles Past Leopards, Vikings

Wentworth Box Score - Bethany Lutheran Box Score

CAPE CORAL, Fla. - The Saint Mary's softball team had a breakout day on offense as the Belles posted 21 runs while surrendering just one unearned run. Saint Mary's defeated Wentworth Institute of Technology 13-1 in five innings before taking down Bethany Lutheran by an 8-0 final in five innings.

The Belles plated seven runs in the second inning, three in the third, and three in the fourth in the 15-1 route of Wentworth to start the day. In the seven-run second, Saint Mary's put the game out of reach early with three hits, three Leopard errors, and four bases loaded walks. Jillian Busfield kick-started the inning with a ground rule double and capped off the scoring with a one-out single later in the Belles' at bats.

Maria Roberts sends a two-run double to
the outfield in the Belles' win over Wentworth.After Cecily Reyes drew a bases loaded walk to put the Belles ahead 8-0, Maria Roberts pushed the lead to double digits with a two RBI bases loaded double for the first extra base hit and RBIs of her career in the bottom of the third.

The Belles added three more runs in the bottom of the fourth all on bases loaded walks.

The offensive support was more than enough yet again for Callie Selner in the circle. The senior struck out 13 to match her career-best output while walking none, scattering three hits, and allowing one unearned run in an inning in which she struck out four batters.

Jillian Busfield was 2-for-2 at the plate with both hits coming in the second inning. Kayla Chapman added a pair of singles, and Cecily Reyes picked up three RBIs while walking in each of her four plate appearances.

The Belles picked up right where they left off in the second game of the day. In the bottom of the first inning against Bethany Lutheran, Saint Mary's scored seven runs on eight hits with no defensive errors to put the pressure on the Vikings early. Six of the seven runs scored by the Belles came before the Vikings could record a defensive out in the inning. Kayla Chapman and Angela Dainelli both hit doubles as each of the eight hits came off of a different player's bat in the inning.

The Vikings threatened to erase the shut out in the second and third innings, but the Belles defense came up with two plays to keep Bethany Lutheran off of the scoreboard. In the second, Sarah Burke got out of a bases loaded jam with two outs by recording a strike out to end the inning. An inning later with runners on the corners and one out, the Belles cut down the runner from third on a steal attempt, and Burke ended the inning with another strike out.

With the eight-run mercy rule within reach, Jillian Busfield put that rule into full effect in the bottom of the fifth with a one-out home run to center field to put the Belles ahead by eight runs and end the game.

Sarah Burke picked up the victory with a six-hit shutout while adding six strikeouts and one walk.

Callie Selner, Jillian Busfield, and Sarah Callis all had two hits for the Belles. Selner scored a run, Busfield drove in three while scoring twice, and Callis added an RBI double and scored a run in the win.

The Belles (4-4) close out their spring break competitions tomorrow when they take on the College of Wooster and Curry at 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.