Belles lose 7 straight, close season at home
By PAT LEONARD
Sports Writer
The Saint Mary's softball team lost its third straight doubleheader and amounted only one hit in two games as Alma controlled both games in 9-0 and 8-0 respective victories for the Scots Saturday.
Alma (27-4, 12-2 MIAA) clinched its seventh consecutive MIAA regular season title with the wins and will host the conference tournament next Friday and Saturday at Scots Park.
The Belles (15-17-1, 4-8 MIAA) have lost seven games in a row and nine of their last ten. They sit above only 4-9 Adrian and 1-13 Kalamazoo.
Umpires stopped the first game of the doubleheader due to an eight-run rule after five innings, the second time that has happened to Saint Mary's in three games. Marian forced a similar situation in an 11-2 defeat of the Belles.
In the first game, Alma's Leigh Anne LeFave dominated, striking out four batters and walking none en route to a one-hit performance and her fourteenth win of the season.
The Belles' only hit came on a third inning single to right field by second baseman Meghan Marenkowic.
Junior Libby Wilhelmy went the distance for Saint Mary's and got the loss, surrendering nine runs (six earned) on seven hits. Three of Alma's runs came in the bottom of the first inning. Wilhelmy then held the Scots scoreless until a six-run onslaught in the fourth inning.
The second game was worse than the first. In this game, neither Marenkowic nor any other Belles hitter was able to knock a base hit.
Alma's Melissa Tavidian pitched her second no-hitter of the season versus a struggling Saint Mary's team that has been outscored by opponents, 55-14, in its seven straight losses.
Starting pitcher Kate Sajewich of the Belles struck out an impressive eight batters, but she gave up eight runs on fourteen hits. All of the runs were earned.
Saint Mary's closes out the season tomorrow at home against Olivet, who sits fourth in the MIAA with a 16-15 overall record and a 6-5 record in league play.
The doubleheader is a make-up of a postponed, March 29 match-up.
All Sports Stories for Tuesday, April 29, 2003
