Saint Mary's used a strong start to top North Park (Ill.) for two wins, 9-6 and 14-1, Sunday in a double-header on the road.
The Belles (11-5) wasted no time in getting on the board, scoring four runs in the first inning, including a three-run home run by freshman Morgan Bedan. Senior Maureen Healy capitalized on a walk advancing to home as part of the team's four-run rally to start the day.
Healy came up big again in the fourth inning, with the score tied at four a piece, knocking in two with the first home run of her career to take the 6-4 lead.
"I am extremely proud of how Maureen Healy played today," Belles coach Erin Sullivan said. "She had a great day at the plate, and made some stellar defensive plays to keep us in the first game."
North Park was quick to follow up with a couple runs, and by the seventh inning the score was tied at six. The Saint Mary's bats came alive again as they used a series of base hits to score three runs and hold off the Vikings for the victory.
"I was also impressed with the way our team came out in the seventh inning of the first game and a tie score knowing we would win this game. We talked about making the 7th inning a team effort and everyone contributing," Sullivan said. "That was definitely the case as eight of our nine hitters came up to bat that inning and we turned a key double play in the bottom of the seventh when North Park threatened to come back."
The Belles continued to build off their momentum into the second game, loading the bases with two hits and a walk followed by a grand slam by junior Hayley Bojorquez to take the early lead. They added six more runs in the third on a rally that included a total of eight hits. The thrashing continued into the fifth inning before the game was called on account of the 10-run rule, the final score stood at 14-1 in the Belle's favor.
"The second game we really showed how strong our offense can be with 17 hits in 5 innings," Sullivan said. "North Park is a good team, but we had a lot of momentum coming off such a close win."
The Belle's will be back in action at 5 p.m. today when they take on Bethel College in a doubleheader at Notre Dame's Melissa Cook Stadium.The Belle's will be back in action at 5 p.m. today when they take on Bethel College in a doubleheader at Notre Dame's Melissa Cook Stadium.
