RICHMOND, Ind. - Saint Mary's College Softball split the final day of the Earlham Classic on Saturday, falling 13-4 to Earlham College and defeating Elmhurst University 8-3. The Belles move to 2-2 after the opening weekend.
Saint Mary's vs Earlham
Earlham had a hot start to the morning game, scoring eight runs in the first two innings. The Belles bounced back with a run of their own in the bottom of the second. After the first two batters reached, and had a double steal, sophomore Arianna Vazquez (Carol Stream, IL) hit a sacrifice fly into left field to score freshman Isabelle Hochmuth (St. Louis, MO). The Quakers added another run in the third inning to extend their lead, 9-1.
After shutting down Earlham in the fourth, The Belles got back-to-back doubles from Hochmuth and senior Sam Mikitka (Naperville, IL) that saw Hochmuth come around to score. Mikitka would come in to score after sophomore Ashlyn Yeo (Jackson, MI) reached on a throwing error. Saint Mary's added another run in the fifth after freshman Molly Ryan (Joliet, IL) tripled to lead off the inning and junior Allie Moss (Goshen, IN) hit a sacrifice fly into left field to score Ryan.
Earlham added four more runs in the sixth and seventh innings to close out the game to take the first game of the day, 13-4.
Hochmuth and Ryan led the Belles offensively, both going 2-3 on the day while Hochmuth would come around to score twice. Three Belles tallied RBIs on the day while Hochmuth and Mikitka tallied doubles and both Ryan and sophomore Hunter St. Peter (Traverse City, MI) added a triple each. Hochmuth and sophomore Gia Schiavone (Poland, OH) both swiped a bag as well.
In the circle, Mikitka made her first appearance of the season, throwing two innings to start the game while Yeo would finish the final five innings while striking out one batter.
Saint Mary's vs Elmhurst
The Belles offense got hot early against the Blue Jays. After back-to-back singles to lead off the game from Moss and Schiavone, sophomore Talia Jorgensen tripled to right field to bring both runners around to score. Hochmuth continued her hot start to the season as she singled through the left side to bring Jorgensen around to score. With two outs and the bases loaded, sophomore Lydia Hinga (Portage, MI) walked to bring sophomore Emma Luther (New Carlisle, IN) around to score. After the walk, Mikitka found a gap in the Blue Jays defense and stole home to give the Belles a 5-0 lead after the first half inning. Elmhurst would bounce back in the bottom half with three unearned runs of their own to make the score 5-3 after one inning.
Both teams' offenses struggled to bring another run around to score between the second and sixth innings. The pitching for both teams was excellent for both as Mikitka allowed just four hits through the final six innings.
After a leadoff walk in the top of the seventh for Schiavone, Jorgensen laid down a beautiful bunt single as both players would advance a base on the throw. Hochmuth would ground out to bring Schiavone home to extend the Belles lead. St. Peter laid down an excellent sacrifice bunt to bring Jorgensen in to score from third. Vazquez followed that up with a double to left center field before Mikitka shot a single through the right side to bring Vazquez in to score.
After a leadoff single from Elmhurst, Mikitka and the Belles defense shut down the Blue Jays offense in order to close out the game and the Earlham Classic with an 8-3 win.
Jorgensen and Mikitka led the team offensively with two hits each while Jorgensen also added two runs scored and two RBIs. Schiavone also came around to score twice. Vazquez added a double while Jorgensen tripled in the game and Mikitka swiped one bag.
In the circle, Mikitka went the distance for the Belles, throwing all seven innings. After a rough first inning, Mikitka allowed just four hits and no runs among the final 26 batters that she faced. Mikitka struck out one batter and none of her three runs allowed were earned.
UP NEXT FOR THE BELLES
Saint Mary's returns to action on Friday, March 6, as they head to Goshen College for a double header. The Belles then head south for 10 games in five days at the USSSA Space Coast Complex in Melbourne, FL on March 9-14.
