Rolla, Mo. – The Missouri S&T Softball nine scored three runs in the sixth inning of each game to sweep past Bellarmine 4-0 and 5-3 on Friday afternoon at the S&T Softball Field. The Lady Miners (11-16, 3-3 GLVC) got a two-run homer from
Jacey Allen (Roanoke, Texas/Byron Nelson) for some insurance in the opener and
Kelly Heckemeyer (St. Elizabeth, Mo./St. Elizabeth) hit a three-run homer breaking a 2-2 tie in the backend of the twin bill.
Game 1 – Lady Miners 4 Bellarmine 0
S&T grabbed an early lead in the opener with a tally in the second inning.
Savannah Fedorchak (Oakville, Mo./Oakville) led off the frame with a double and moved to third on
Hannah Franceschini (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield Central)'s one-out single through the right side of the infield.
Lori Badalamenti (Wentzville, Mo./Timberland ) drove in Fedorchak with a deep drive to center and Franceschini moved to second on the play but was left stranded.
The Knights (11-17, 1-5 GLVC) got the tying run to third with two outs in the fourth but
Avery English (Carterville, Ill./Carterville) was able to get a popup to short ending the inning.
The Lady Miners tacked on some insurance runs in the sixth.
Abby Klein (Kansas City, MO/Staley) led off the inning with a single to second and advanced to second on a throwing error by the second baseman.
Monica Weiss (St. Louis, Mo./Marquette ) moved her over to third with a sacrifice bunt. Heckemeyer then walked on a 3-2 pitch putting runners on the corner. Fedorchak brought home Klein with a sacrifice fly to left. Allen came off the bench and hit a 2-2 pitch over the fence in left for her second home run of the season to cap the scoring.
S&T had four hits in the opener with Klein, Fedorchak, Allen and Franceschini registering one each. English shut down the Bellarmine offense holding them to just two hits and struck out five to pick up the complete game shutout.
Game 2 – Lady Miners 5 Bellarmine 3
The Lady Miners struck first again in the nightcap with a run in the home half of the first. They loaded the bases with two outs and
Carley Hamann (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln Way North) drove in the first run with a bases loaded walk on a 3-2 pitch. Badalamenti tried to add on to the lead but was robbed of a hit on a nice play by Olivia Russell at second.
S&T missed an opportunity in the second before adding to its lead in the third. Fedorchak led off the inning with a double to center and
Hannah Smith (Oconomowoc, Wis./Catholic Memorial) came into run for her. Franceschini followed with a single to right center bringing home Smith to make it 2-0. The Lady Miners loaded the bases again but were unable to add to the lead.
S&T left two more on in the fifth leaving the door open for the Knights. Bellarmine tied the game in the sixth taking advantage of two errors by the Lady Miner defense and had the go-ahead run at third but
Kati Viets (Sweet Springs, Mo./Sweet Springs) got Lillie Nitzken to groundout to Klein to end the inning.
S&T regained the lead in the home half of the sixth. Klein led off with a single to second. Weiss then grounded one to third, the third baseman tried to get Klein at second but threw the ball into right field allowing Klein to get to third. With Heckemeyer batting Weiss stole second to put two in scoring position. Heckemeyer then hit a 0-1 pitch over the fence in left for her second home run of the season giving the Lady Miners a 5-2 lead.
The Knights added a run in the top of the seventh on an infield single by Erica Knollman which also put the tying runs on base but Viets was able to retire Rachel Ayer with a ground ball to third to end the contest.
S&T outhit Bellarmine 9-6 in the nightcap and was led by Klein and Weiss with two hits each. Heckemeyer, Fedorchak, Franceschini, Hamann and
Ashley Rausch (Washington, Iowa/Washington) had a hit each. Viets improved to 5-8 allowing three runs, one earned, on six hits with five strike outs in the complete game effort.
The Lady Miners are back in action on Sunday afternoon hosting Southern Indiana in a doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m. at the S&T Softball Field.
