Belles Ground Eagles, Owls for Sweep in Florida Finales

Benedictine Box Score - Keene State Box Score

• Cassie Young was 3-for-4 with two doubles, two RBI, and three runs scored against Benedictine.
• Kelsey Richards was 2-for-3 against Keene State with a run scored, an RBI, and a double.
• Morgan Raymer picked up the complete-game win against Benedictine while Jessica Alberts went the distance for the win against Keene State.

CLERMONT, Fla. - The Saint Mary's softball team took a 7-3 win over Benedictine before defeating Keene State 6-4 to conclude their trip to Florida.

The Belles jumped out to a big 5-0 lead through one complete against Benedictine. Kelsey Keilman and Makenzie Duncan had consecutive one-out singles, and Cassie Young drove them both in with a single of her own. Two batters later, Madelynne Keller singled to center field to put a pair on base. Kelsey Richards then drove in Young with a hit to center field. Megan Knudsen pushed Keller across home with a single, and Alyssa Gutierrez drove in Richards with a single to give the Belles the five-run lead.

The Eagles got two runs back in the second inning with a two-out, two-run home run, but Saint Mary's responded with a run in their next at-bats. Cassie Young belted a two-out double to left-center field and moved up 60 feet on a passed ball. Sydney Swartz drew a walk, and Young scored on the double steal for the 6-2 Saint Mary's advantage.

Benedictine took advantage of an error by the Belles in the next half-inning and plated an unearned run to push the score to 6-3. The defense for Saint Mary's came up with strong plays to keep the Eagles from pushing a runner past second base during the remainder of the contest.

The Belles added a run in the sixth inning. Cassie Young doubled to right-center field and scored two batters later on a single to right field by Madelynne Keller.

Benedictine threatened in their last at-bats by putting the first two batters on base with a walk and a single. A pair of fly outs preceded a strikeout looking to end the threat and the game by the 7-3 final score.

Cassie Young was 3-for-4 with two doubles, two RBI, and three runs scored against Benedictine. Alyssa Gutierrez was 3-for-3 in the win, and Madelynne Keller went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run. Morgan Raymer went the distance in the circle with four strikeouts, two walks, and scattered four hits over seven innings.

Saint Mary's broke through first in the contest against Keene State as the Belles plated two runs in the second, one in the third, and one in the fourth against the Owls.

Sydney Swartz reached on an error and advanced to second on the play. She moved up to third on a single by Madelynne Keller, and Kelsey Richards was hit by a pitch to load the bases. A single by JoAnna Keilman scored Swartz while Keller was thrown out at the plate trying to score on the same play. Alyssa Gutierrez drew a walk to load the bases, and Jamie Young's infield ground out allowed Richards to score. In the next inning, Cassie Young hit a one-out single and advanced to third on a double by Swartz. Richards drove in Young two batters later with a single to left field for the 3-0 Saint Mary's lead.

The Belles pushed across an unearned run in the top of the fourth. Alyssa Gutierrez started off the inning by reaching on an error, and Jamie Young beat out a bunt single to put two aboard. Krystal Harris then laced a single to center field, allowing Gutierrez to score from second to give the Belles the 4-0 advantage.

Keene State started the bottom of the fourth inning with four consecutive hits to plate a pair of runs. Big defensive plays were key for the Belles, however, in limiting the damage. A double by the Owls plated one run, but Cassie Young cut down a runner at home trying to score from first base on the play. With a runner on first and one out, Krystal Harris made a snag in left field and doubled off a runner at first base for an inning-ending double play.

The Belles put two runs on the scoreboard in the top of the sixth inning to regain a four-run lead. Jamie Young drew a lead-off walk, Krystal Harris singled to left field, and Kelsey Keilman singled to center field to load the bases. A passed ball allowed Young to score while advancing Harris and Keilman 60 feet. With one out gone, an infield ground out by Swartz pushed Harris across to make it a 6-2 game.

The Owls had three consecutive hits to start the sixth inning and scored on an infield ground out. Another big Saint Mary's defensive play ended the threat in its tracks - a line drive double play which had Kelsey Richards snag the line drive and throw to Jamie Young at second to catch the runner off the base. The Owls looked to put together a seventh-inning rally. A one-out double was followed by consecutive hit batters to load the bases. The Belles, however, closed out the game with a pair of infield ground outs to preserve the 6-4 win.

Kelsey Richards was 2-for-3 against Keene State with a run scored, an RBI, and a double. Krystal Harris added a 2-for-4 effort with an RBI and a run. Each batter in the line up safely reached base at least once in the win for the Belles. Jessica Alberts earned the win after going the distance with two strikeouts and no walks.

The Belles (13-1) are set to host their first home doubleheader of the season on Friday, March 23 against Wheaton at 3:00 p.m.