Saint Mary’s split a pair of doubleheaders over the weekend, going 1-1 against each Olivet and Alma.
The Belles (18-8, 5-3 MIAA) started out Saturday’s home doubleheader with Olivet (13-11, 3-5) in dramatic fashion, with a walk-off single from sophomore first baseman Caitlyn Migawa giving the Belles a 5-4 win.
Saint Mary’s trailed 4-0 in the middle of the second inning Saturday morning but came storming all the way back in the bottom of the third. Junior catcher Jillian Busfield hit a two-RBI single to cut the Comets’ lead to 4-2 before freshman designated player Morgan Raymer hit a two-run home run to left-center field to tie the game up.
Five scoreless innings of relief from freshman pitcher Mary Green helped keep the game tied heading into the bottom of the seventh, when Saint Mary’s took the lead on Migawa’s walk-off single.
It was Olivet, however, that returned the favor in the second game of the doubleheader, with Comets sophomore designated player Jessica Paloumbo hitting a walk-off double to stun Saint Mary’s.
Trailing 5-4 entering the final frame, the Belles rattled off five runs in the top of the seventh to take what looked like a commanding 9-5 lead thanks in part to junior third baseman Kayla Chapman’s three-run home run.
Looking to close out the game, the Belles turned to Green again on the bump, but this time around, the Comets figured the freshman out, scoring five runs in the bottom half of the inning to take the victory.
Trying to make up games that were rained out during the week, the Belles then traveled to Alma, Michigan, on Sunday for a second doubleheader of the weekend and again managed a split.
In the first game of the day, Saint Mary’s snagged a 7-5 win over the Scots (19-11, 10-2).
After the Belles went ahead in the top of the first, Alma scored a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the second to take a 2-1 lead.
Saint Mary’s struck right back in the top of the third though, as a two-RBI single from Raymer put the Belles back ahead. Later in the inning, freshman right fielder Makenzie Duncan lined a shot to center field that was misplayed by the Scots defense, allowing two Belles to score and stretch the advantage to 6-2.
After Alma plated a pair of runs, one in the fifth and one in the sixth, the Belles notched an insurance run in the seventh, when Busfield hit an RBI double to take the lead to 7-4. The Scots got one more back in the bottom of the inning, but Green and the Belles hung on to hand Alma its second loss of the conference slate.
The Scots, however, answered in the second game, jumping out to a 5-0 lead en route to a 5-2 win.
Despite her struggles in the second game Saturday, Green was named the Saint Mary’s Athlete of the Week for her performances.
The Belles will return to action Thursday, when they host Albion in conference action.
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