JACKSON, Miss. - The Belhaven University softball team returns to the diamond this weekend, traveling to Pineville, La. to take on No. 24 Louisiana College for a three-game series. The Blazers open the series versus the Wildcats with a doubleheader Friday at 5 p.m., followed by a single game Saturday at 12 p.m. 

Belhaven (7-11) is coming off of a series sweep of the University of the Ozarks March 10-11. The Blazers outscored the Eagles 23-6 over the three-game series.

Meg Garton recorded a hit in nearly every one of her at-bats for the week, going 7-for-8 against the Ozarks. The junior collected two doubles and two RBI, and improved her season average to .350. Makayla Reed hit 4-for-12 over the weekend, including a three-run homer in game two. 

Jordan Herring picked up two wins over the Ozarks, recording a 0.00 ERA in 13 innings of work, surrendering just 10 hits while striking out nine batters. 

Since starting the season 0-7, Belhaven has won seven of if its past 11 games. Louisiana College will be the fourth nationally ranked NCAA Division III opponent the Blazers face this season. 

Louisiana College owns a 17-2 overall record and currently sits atop the American Southwest Conference (ASC) standings with a 14-1 conference record. The Wildcats are on a 13-game winning streak and have swept four straight conference series. Their most recent sweep was over Hardin-Simmons on the road. 

The Louisiana College pitching staff leads the ASC in team ERA (0.99), opposing batting average (.207), batters struck out (103) and walks allowed (16). Junior pitcher Darian Thacker owns a 5-0 record with a 0.75 ERA while junior Savannah Settle has a 1.00 ERA and an 8-0 record. Settle also leads the ASC in strikeouts with 66 in 63 innings pitched. 

Junior infielder Mattie Stine leads the Wildcats in the batters box with a .426 batting average and 18 RBI. Freshman outfielder Shea Smith is batting .404 with two home runs and 15 RBI. As a team, LC is hitting .302 with a .360 on-base percentage and a .389 slugging percentage. The Wildcats also rank fourth in the ASC in stolen bases (38). 

Belhaven swept Louisiana College last season in Jackson. All three games were close, with the Blazers defeating the Wildcats 4-0, 3-2 and 5-0. 

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