BELTON, TEXAS - Belhaven University softball dropped the opening game of a three-game set, 9-0, to Mary Hardin-Baylor, but recovered in game two with a 5-2 victory to earn a doubleheader split Friday from Dee Dillon Field in Belton, Texas. 

Belhaven (17-20) was held to just two hits in game one, and was held scoreless for just the fifth time this season. 

Mary Hardin-Baylor (26-13) opened the scoring in the bottom of the first with one run, and broke the game open in the fifth, putting four runs on the board. In the bottom of the sixth, Leah Brown smacked a grand slam to put UMHB up 9-0 and end the game an inning early. 

Makenzi Dawson paced the Crusaders with three hits and three runs scored while Brown finished 2-for-2 at the plate with five RBI. 

Meg Garton and Megan Goss recorded one hit each for the Blazers. 

In game two, the Green and Gold tallied just five hits while the Crusaders totaled nine, but the Blazers took advantage of some costly UMHB errors. 

Savannah Lyon led off the second inning with a walk, and Cassidy Blount would reach on a error by UMHB pitcher Darilek to give Belhaven runners on first and second. Garton then drew a walk to load the bases with none down. Savannah Johnston came through with an RBI single to score Lyon and give the Blazers a 1-0 lead. 

Belhaven would score two more times in the second as Brittany Chetta reached on an error to score Garton, while Johnston came home on a Brooke Laigast groundout. 

The Blazers tacked on another run in the top of the fifth when Blount singled to plate Makayla Reed from second. 

Belhaven starting pitcher Valiree Blair had a shutout going through five innings, but the Crusaders managed to get on the board in the bottom of the sixth. Walter doubled to lead off the frame, and Brown followed with an RBI single, making the score 4-1 in favor of the Green and Gold. 

The Blazers got that run back in the top of the seventh, once again scoring off of a UMHB error. Reed hit a one-out single and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Reed would then score on throwing error by the UMHB pitcher. 

Mary Hardin-Baylor attempted to forge a comeback in the bottom of the seventh, putting up one run on three hits, but Blair got two big groundouts to secure the win for the Blazers. 

Blair (4-3) picked up the win in the circle for Belhaven, surrendering two runs and zero walks in seven innings pitched. Blair has now earned a win in each of her last three starts. 

Kaitlyn Blubaugh, Hannah Holloway, Reed, Blount and Johnston each tallied one hit for the Green and Gold. 

The Blazers and the Crusaders will play the rubber match of the series Saturday at 12 p.m. 

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