JACKSON, Miss. - The Belhaven University softball team split their doubleheader at home against Concordia on Friday afternoon in American Southwest Conference play.  

____________________________________________________________________________________

INSIDE THE MATCHUP

Final: Belhaven 2, Concordia 1 Game one) Concordia 5, Belhaven 3  (Game two)

Records: Belhaven 17-5  (8-3, ASC) | Concordia 11-11  (10-7 , ASC)

Location:  | Jim McLeod Field | Jackson, MS |

Get Social: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram | @BelhavenBlazers | www.blazers.belhaven.edu

____________________________________________________________________________________

HOW IT HAPPENED

- Game one

- Early on, it was a pitcher's dual between Concordia's Jordan Russell and Jordan Herring.

- Through the first three innings of action, neither pitcher had given up a run or a single hit.

- However, Concordia struck first in the top half of the fourth with a solo home run to left to take a 1-0 lead.

- That would be the only hit that Herring would give up the entire contest as she shut down the Tornados' offense.

- Belhaven would tie things up in the bottom of the sixth off of an RBI from Marlee Blackwell which scored Makayla Reed to even the score.

- The Blazers took the lead for good after Toni Wilson's  game-winning RBI single scored Marlee Blackwell to push the Green and Gold ahead 2-1.

- Jordan Herring pitched her ninth complete game of the season inside the circle as she retired the Tornados in the seventh to preserve the victory.

Game two

- Game two had a similar feel to game one with a low number of hits from both teams and minimal runs crossing the plate.

- Concordia got base runners on early in the top of the first and then scored two runs off an RBI single for a 2-0 advantage in the first inning.

- Belhaven responded with one run as they cut the deficit off of an RBI single from Cassidy Blount which brought home Kaitlyn Blubaugh.

- With the bases loaded in the bottom of the fourth, Blubaugh notched an RBI sacrifice fly out to center field, as Whitney Jemison crossed the plate to tie up the game at 2-2.

- Meg Garton drew a walk to score Brianna Dollar from third later on in the inning as BU re-claimed the lead at 3-2.

- Concordia stormed back to take the lead in the next half inning with three runs on two hits, including a two-run home run out to left field.

- With the Tornados ahead 5-3 late in the contest, the Blazers needed a late rally. Unfortunately, the Blazers would strand two more base runners in the final innings as they were unable to bring any more runs home in the game.

__________________________________________________________________________________

KEY STATISTICS

Game one

- Jordan Herring improved to 9-1 on the year after the first game of the series. Herring tossed four strikeouts in the win.

- Belhaven totaled four hits in the victory.

- Makayla Reed, Toni Wilson, Danielle Darmohray, and Whitney Jemison each tallied one hit apiece in the win.

Game two

- Whitney Jemison was a perfect 3-3 from the plate in game two with three singles.

- Kaitlyn Blubaugh, Cassidy Blount, and Meg Garton each recorded one RBI.

- Additionally, Blount had a hit registered as well.

- Jordan Herring pitched six innings and struck out four batters, giving her eight total strikeouts on the day.

- Jordan Self pitched one inning in relief.

- The Blazers were limited to just four hits again in the second contest.  

____________________________________________________________________________________

UP NEXT

Belhaven will take on Concordia at Jim McLeod Field tomorrow beginning at 11:00 a.m. for the final game of the series.  

For the latest news on Belhaven Blazers athletics, follow @BelhavenBlazers on Twitter and Instagram, and like us on Facebook.