Belles Silence Thunder in Shutout Sweep

Game One Box Score - Game Two Box Score

• Cassie Young went 2-for-2 in the opener with two runs scored and a double.
• Makenzie Duncan was 4-for-4 with a double, four RBI, and a run to surpass 100 career RBI.
• Morgan Raymer had the game-one shutout victory in the circle, and Jessica Alberts and Zoe Bruni combined for the game-two shutout.

NOTRE DAME, Ind. - The Saint Mary's softball team won 6-0 and 10-0 against Wheaton in their first home doubleheader of the season on Friday evening.

After an inning-ending double play in the top of the first, the Belles jumped on the scoreboard in the bottom half of the frame. Madelynne Keller drew a walk, and Cassie Young laced a double to right field to put a pair of runners in scoring position with two outs. Sydney Swartz then delivered a single to left field to plate Keller and Young for a 2-0 lead.

The Belles left bases loaded in the second inning, and Morgan Raymer struck out the side in the third to put Saint Mary's back up to bat quickly. Cassie Young had a lead-off walk, advanced to second on a ground out by Swartz, and scored two batters later on an error by the Thunder center fielder to make it a 3-0 game.

Raymer retired the next nine batters she faced to keep Wheaton from gaining any momentum, and the offense gave the senior additional run support. Madelynne Keller had a lead-off walk and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Cassie Young. With two outs gone, Kelsey Richards belted a double to center field to plate Keller for a 4-0 advantage. The Belles plated two more runs in the sixth inning. Megan Knudsen and Alyssa Gutierrez hit back-to-back singles to start the inning, and Jamie Young used a sacrifice bunt to move the pair up 60 feet. Keller then drove in the pair with a two-out single to center field to make it 6-0. The Thunder threatened in the top of the seventh by putting a pair of runners on with one out, but an infield fly followed by a strikeout looking ended the game.

Cassie Young went 2-for-2 in the opener with two runs scored and a double. Madelynne Keller was 1-for-2 with two walks, two runs scored, and two RBI. Sydney Swartz drove in a pair, and Kelsey Richards collected an RBI.

Morgan Raymer went the distance in the circle for the four-hit shutout victory. She struck out seven and did not surrender a walk or an extra-base hit.

Game two saw the Belles claim a 4-0 lead through an inning of play as Saint Mary's sent nine hitters to the plate to start the game. Jamie Young and Kelsey Keilman each hit a single, and the pair scored on a double to right field by Makenzie Duncan, marking the 100th and 101st career RBI for the senior. Two batters later, Duncan scored on a single up the middle by Sydney Swartz. Madelynne Keller chipped in a single, and everyone was safe on a fielder's choice to the short stop by Kelsey Richard to load the bases. JoAnna Keilman put a lot behind a sacrifice fly to center field to plate Swartz for the 4-0 lead.

Saint Mary's plated two runs to help the cause in the fourth inning. Jamie Young led off with a walk, and Kelsey Keilman reached on an error by the shortstop. Makenzie Duncan laced a single through the right side of the defense to plate Young from second base. Cassie Young dropped a run into right field to load the bases, and Sydney Swartz singled to plate Keilman. A line-drive double play put a damper on the Belles' efforts to plate additional runs in the inning.

Jessica Alberts retired the first seven batters she faced and forced the Thunder into stranding runners on base in both the third and fourth innings. Zoe Bruni came on in relief in the fifth inning, and the defense helped the junior out of a tight spot. With runners on first and second with no outs, Jamie Young snagged a line drive and made the throw to Kelsey Richards at second base to double off the base runner to give the Belles two outs. A fly out ended the threat as the Belles held the 6-0 lead late.

Having flipped home and away for the contest, the Belles plated four additional runs in the top of the seventh inning. Alyssa Gutierrez drew a walk and moved to second on a passed ball. Jamie Young then drove in Gutierrez with a single down the left field line. Jill Ackermann drew a walk, and Makenzie Duncan dropped a single inside the left foul line to plate Young. Cassie Young added a hard single to third base to load the bases. A fielder's choice saw Ackermann forced out at home, but Madelynne Keller sent a single right up the middle of the field to plate Duncan and Cassie Young to make it a 10-0 lead.

The Thunder put two runners on base via walks in the bottom of the seventh inning, but a fly out to right field ended the game as the Belles capped off the shutout sweep.

Makenzie Duncan was 4-for-4 with a double, four RBI, and a run. Cassie Young added a 3-for-4 effort with a run scored. Sydney Swartz and Madelynne Keller each had two hits and two RBI. Jamie Young tallied two hits, three runs, and an RBI, and Kelsey Richards recorded a pair of hits.

Jessica Alberts picked up the win in the circle after four innings of two-hit work. The senior walked just one batter and did not allow an extra-base hit. Zoe Bruni closed out the final three innings of the game by allowing no runs on four hits and two walks while striking out one.

The Belles (15-1) have a quick turnaround as they host North Central tomorrow, March 24 at 1:00 p.m. at the Purcell Athletic Fields.