RICHMOND, Ind. - Saint Mary's College Softball split their two games on Opening Day at the Earlham Classic, defeating Earlham College in the season opener, 12-11, and falling to Elmhurst University in game two, 6-5. The Belles start the season 1-1.
 
Saint Mary's vs Earlham
Junior Allie Moss (Goshen, IN) got the season started right for Saint Mary's, doubling to left center field to lead off the game. After advancing to third on a wild pitch, Moss stole home to give the Belles an early 1-0 lead. In the second inning, after the Belles loaded the bases, freshman Ella Kucala (Monee, IL) grounded out to drive home sophomore Lydia Hinga (Portage, MI) to extend the lead. Following Kucala, freshman Isabelle Hochmuth (St. Louis, MO) got her college career off on the right foot as she sent a towering homer to right field for the first of her collegiate career, bringing in three runs to give Saint Mary's a quick 5-0 lead after two innings. Earlham would bounce back with a single run in the bottom half of the inning after a bases loaded single.
 
In the third inning, after loading the bases with two outs, Moss reached on a fielding error that allowed sophomore Arianna Vazquez (Carol Stream, IL) to come around to score. This was the first of a dominant third inning for the Belles. Kucala followed with a single to left field, allowing two runs to come into score to extend the lead. Hochmuth continued her perfect start to the day with a single back up the middle to score Moss. Saint Mary's kept their foot on the gas as sophomore Gia Schiavone (Poland, OH) singled to center field to bring Kucala around to extend the lead to 10-1. The Quakers bounced back with a four run inning of their own on four hits to cut the lead in half.
 
Saint Mary's went quiet over the next two innings while Earlham bounced back to tie the game with five runs on two hits, one error, and three walks. After giving up five in the bottom of the fifth, the Belles bounced back with two of their own in the sixth to take the lead back. After Hochmuth walked to lead off the inning, she immediately swiped second base from the Quakers. With two outs, sophomore Hunter St. Peter (Traverse City, MI) singled to left field, allowing Hochmuth to come around to score. On the play, a throwing error by the left field saw St. Peter use her aggressiveness to come around to score on the play, putting the Belles up, 12-10.
 
Earlham used a leadoff single and a stolen base to add a run in the bottom of the seventh to try and comeback. Junior Sammy Schrader (Romeoville, IL) got herself two ground balls and a fly out to end the game, giving the Belles a win in the season opener.
 
Hochmuth had a stellar first game for the Belles, going 3-3 at the dish while adding two walks for a perfect 1.000 on base percentage. She drove in four runs on the day while scoring two of her own and hitting her first collegiate home run, she also swiped two bases on the day.
 
Moss tallied two hits for the Belles while coming around to score three times. Kucala brought home three RBI's on the day while freshman Molly Ryan (Joliet, IL) scored twice.
 
In the circle, sophomore Ashlyn Yeo (Jackson, MI) started for the Belles, throwing 3 innings and allowed five runs with two strikeouts. Schrader closed out the game for the Belles, throwing four innings and allowing six runs and earning her first win of the season.
 
Saint Mary's vs Elmhurst
Elmhurst got out to a strong start in the first inning as they had the bases loaded on two occasions, but after a fielder's choice out at home and a fly out to end the inning, the Belles went into the bottom half unscathed. 
 
While there was no other threat from either team heading into the third inning, the Blue Jays got on the board first with two runs on two hits in the top of the third. Saint Mary's bounced right back in the bottom half after three of the first four batters reached to start the inning. With the bases loaded, Hochmuth lifted a double to center field, bringing in two runs to tie the ballgame. After a walk to load the bases and a pitching change for Elmhurst, Ryan singled to left field to bring home St. Peter to give the Belles their first lead. The very next batter, Schiavone would take a walk to bring Hochmuth into score and put the Belles up, 4-2.
 
After shutting Elmhurst down in the top of the fourth, Saint Mary's got the bottom half of the inning started with a single from Moss who advanced to second on a passed ball. Kucala would single back up the middle to bring Moss around to score to extend the Belles lead. The Blue Jays bounced back in the fifth, starting off with a reach on a throwing error to allow a run to come around. Two batters later, an inside the park three-run home run gave Elmhurst a 6-5 advantage.
 
Both teams threatened in the final two innings, but Elmhurst shut down all of the Saint Mary's offensive attacks to take home the close 6-5 win.
 
Moss and Kucala led the team with two hits, both going 2-3 in game two. Moss led the team with two runs scored in the game while Hochmuth knocked in two runs to lead the Belles. St. Peter drew two of the team's six walks on the afternoon.
 
In the circle, Yeo started and threw six strong innings, allowing six runs, three earned, and striking out two. Schrader closed out the game in the seventh, striking out one of her five batters faced.
 
UP NEXT FOR THE BELLES
Saint Mary's returns to the field tomorrow to take on the Quakers and Blue Jays once again at 10:30 am and 1 pm. The Belles are back in action on Friday, March 6, as they head to Goshen, IN to take on Goshen College in a double header.