After battling a losing streak of four, the Belles traveled to North Manchester, Indiana to face off against Manchester in a non-conference game. The Belles took two, winning the first game 3-1 and the second game 12-4.
Game 1
In the first game, sophomore pitcher and outfielder Ashlyn Yeo started in the circle for the Belles. Yeo threw four innings, allowing only one run off four hits. Senior pitcher and captain Sam Mikitka came into relief and finished the game, allowing three hits while striking out one batter. Yeo took the win, moving her record to 4-5 on the season.
Offensively, the game started off quiet from both teams. Neither team was able to make it around the bases in the first three innings. Fast forward to the top of the fourth, and the Belles found their offensive power. Sophomore outfielder and middle fielder Gia Schiavone knocked the ball to the left side for a single, and following her was freshman infielder Maggie Voliva, who bunted to reach first base and advance Schiavone. Sophomore catcher and first baseman Arianna Vazquez was up next and reached first on an error from the Manchester pitcher, allowing Schiavone to make it home and put the Belles ahead 1-0. Sophomore middle fielder Hunter St. Peter reached first to allow Voliva to score and put the Belles ahead 2-0.
Manchester added on a run for themselves in the bottom of the fifth inning to bring the score within one, but freshman outfielder Isabelle Hochmuth drove the ball over the centerfield fence, adding her third home run of the year at the top of the sixth. With neither team scoring in the sixth or seventh inning, Saint Mary’s took a 3-1 win.
Game 2
In game two, the Belles came out strong and stayed strong, moving to 11-15 on the year, while Manchester fell to 11-10.
The mound saw three Belles. Kicking off the game was junior pitcher Sammy Schrader, who pitched half an inning while allowing three runs off five hits. Sophomore pitcher Aubrey Zachery came in relief in her third appearance with the Belles. Zachery pitched four innings, allowing one run off three hits and striking out three batters. Sophomore outfielder Mary Gamble rounded out the game, facing the final two Manchester batters for her first collegiate pitching appearance. Zachery took the game win, moving her record to 1-2 on the season.
The Belles started the first inning strong with three singles, one from junior catcher and outfielder Allie Moss to load the bases, one from second baseman and outfielder Talia Jorgensen and one from Schiavone. A single from Hochmuth allowed Moss to make it home and put the Belles up 1-0. Manchester came back in the latter half of the inning, putting up three runs of their own to take a 3-1 lead. After a scoreless second inning, the Belles added on two more runs to retake the 4-3 lead. The top of the fourth inning was the game-changer, as the Belles put up six runs. These six runs, plus three more in the top of the fifth inning, gave the Belles a 12-3 lead due to the run rule.
After two wins against Olivet on Saturday, winning game one 8-0 and game two 11-1, the Belles now are 13-15 on the season. They face Trine on Wednesday in a double header. Game one is set for 3 p.m., with the second to follow at 5 p.m.
