Belles manage one win in two weekend doubleheaders
By KATIE McVOY
Assistant Sports Editor
The Softbelles had a less than satisfying home stand this weekend, finishing 3-1 at the SMC Classic.
Saint Mary's faced off against Alma College on Friday, dropping both games by large run margins. The Belles lost the first game 11-2, then the second 11-3.
Sophomore Kristin Martin pitched the first game of the doubleheader, and junior Anne Senger pitched the second game. Martin came into to relieve Senger near the end of the second game.
"We weren't hitting very well," senior Elise Hall said. "But the loss was really due to the fact that we were playing against the No. 1 team in the conference. It really wasn't anything we did."
Alma came into this weekend's tournament with a 13-1 MIAA league record and a 34-6 overall record, leading the MIAA.
The Belles faired slightly better in the fair weather on Sunday, facing University of Wisconsin-Oskosh.
Saint Mary's looked weak in the first game, dropping it 8-3, despite a good pitching effort by Martin.
Not wanting to leave the weekend on a bad note, however, they came back to win the second game of the double header 9-3.
"Our bats really came alive [Sunday] during the second game," Hall said. "We looked a lot better."
Rachel Deer and Melissa Hayes both hit well for the Belles. Hayes went 6-7 on the weekend, boosting Saint Mary's offense.
Sunday marked the last home game for the senior Belles on the softball team.
"It was a very sentimental day for the seniors," Hall said. "And it was good to end on a win."
Saint Mary's plays its last regular season game on Tuesday at Grand Valley State University at 4:00. The Belles will not attend the MIAA league championships because they did not finish as one of the top four teams in the league.
All Sports Stories for Monday, May 1, 2000
