Belles Sweep Comets on Senior Day

Game One Box Score - Game Two Box Score

• Kelsey Keilman went 2-for-3 with a triple, a run, and a stolen base in game one to lead the Belles.
• Keilman then posted a 4-for-4 effort at the dish with four runs and a walk in game two.
• Morgan Raymer had a career-high 11 strikeouts in a complete-game shutout in game one.
• Jessica Alberts earned the game-two victory while Mary Green closed out the final three innings of the win.

NOTRE DAME, Ind. - The No. 7 (NFCA Division III Top 25 Poll) Saint Mary's softball team (31-3, 13-1 MIAA) earned 1-0 and 9-2 wins over Olivet on Saturday afternoon.

The Belles retired the Comets in order in each of the first three innings of play to help set the tone early. Kelsey Keilman had a triple in her first at-bat but was unable to score in the bottom of the first inning as the Belles left bases loaded in the frame. Two innings later, Keilman laced a single to center field and advanced on a ground out by Makenzie Duncan. Keilman then stole third and scored on an error by the catcher on the play to give Saint Mary's the 1-0 lead.

The top of the fourth inning saw Olivet put runners on second and third with only one out after a pair of hits and a sacrifice bunt. Morgan Raymer shut the door on the threat with back-to-back strikeouts. Both sides were retired in order in the fifth inning, and the Comets again threatened to draw even with the Belles in the top of the sixth. A two-out single was followed by a passed ball to put a runner on second base, but Raymer wrung up the next batter swinging to end the inning. Down to their final three outs of the game, Olivet put runners on first and second with two outs. Raymer drew a pop up to Alyssa Gutierrez at third base to end the game by the 1-0 final score.

Kelsey Keilman went 2-for-3 with a triple, a run, and a stolen base in game one to lead the Belles. Cassie Young was walked twice and stole two bases, and Kelsey Richards was hit by a pitch and stole a base. Morgan Raymer earned the complete-game shutout win with a career-high 11 strikeouts, no walks, and allowed just five hits - all singles.

The Belles got right on the scoreboard in the top of the first inning of game two. Jamie Young had a lead-off single, and Kelsey Keilman beat out a bunt for a single as Young advanced to third. Makenzie Ducan drove in Young with a sacrifice fly. Cassie Young hit a ball to second base, which resulted in an error to put runners at second and third. Morgan Raymer then drove in Keilman with a ground out to make it a 2-0 Saint Mary's lead.

The defense forced the Comets into stranding runners on base in both the first and second innings as the offense got back to production in the top of the third. Kelsey Keilman started the inning with a single, and Makenzie Duncan laced a double to left field to plate Keilman as Duncan advanced to third on the throw. Cassie Young hit a single - the 219th hit of her career to take over the program's all-time career hit record - as Duncan came in to score to make it a 4-0 game.

Olivet responded with a run in the bottom half of the inning. The Comets tallied a two-out triple to right field, and a single to center field put Olivet on the scoreboard. Saint Mary's came right back with three runs in the top of the fourth inning. Jamie Young, Kelsey Keilman, and Makenzie Duncan hit consecutive singles as Duncan drove in Young for a 5-1 advantage. Cassie Young was walked to load the bases, and a fielder's choice by Raymer allowed Keilman to score as the sophomore beat the throw to the plate. Madelynne Keller drew a bases-loaded walk to push Duncan across as the Belles' lead grew to 7-1. Back-to-back outs ended the scoring threat for the Belles as the game moved to the bottom of the fourth inning.

The Comets had consecutive singles with one out to put a pair on base, and a fly ball to right field allowed the runner on second to tag up to third. Jessica Alberts drew a fly out to Kelsey Keilman in right field to end the inning. In the top of the sixth, Saint Mary's again added to the lead as Cassie Young and Morgan Raymer drew back-to-back walks with two outs to score Jamie Young, who had also been walked.

Saint Mary's added an additional run in the top of the seventh inning. Kelsey Keilman laced her fourth hit of the game to start the inning and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Makenzie Duncan grounded out to second to advance Keilman to third base. Cassie Young then drove in Keilman with a sacrifice fly to center field for the 9-1 lead.

Olivet pushed across an unearned run in the bottom of the seventh inning, but Mary Green closed out the win by drawing a ground out to Alyssa Gutierrez for the 9-2 victory for the Belles.

Kelsey Keilman posted a 4-for-4 effort at the dish with four runs and a walk in game two. Jamie Young was 2-for-4 with three runs. Makenzie Duncan went 2-for-4 with a double, two runs, and three RBI. Madelynne Keller collected a pair of hits, walked once, and drove in one run. Cassie Young took over the top spot in program history with her 219th career hit while also driving in two runs and walking twice. Jessica Alberts picked up the win in the circle after going four complete innings while striking out three, walking one, and allowing one run. Mary Green closed out the final three innings of the game in relief and scattered three hits with one walk and one run.

The Belles (31-3, 13-1 MIAA) close out the regular season on Saturday, April 28 when they travel to Kalamazoo for a conference doubleheader starting at 1:00 p.m.