ABILENE, Texas - The Belhaven University softball team continued to find their winning ways on Friday afternoon in west Texas. The Blazers won their eighth straight game with a double header sweep at ASC foe Hardin-Simmons to improve to 10-2 on the year.
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INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: Belhaven 3, Hardin-Simmons 1 (Game one) Â Belhaven 12, Hardin-Simmons 2 (Game two)
Records: Belhaven 10-2, (5-0, ASC) | HSU 0-13, (0-8 , ASC)
Location: Â Ellis Field | Abilene, Texas |
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HOW IT HAPPENED
- Game one
- The Blazers were held scoreless in the first three innings of action and were limited to just one hit.
- In the bottom of the third, HSU kick started things with a leadoff single and a double to left center to put two runners in scoring position.
- With the bases loaded and only one out, the Cowgirls were threatening for the first runs of the game, but Jordan Herring and the Blazer defense got out of the jam unscathed.
- However, in the next inning, Hardin-Simmons would punch in the first run of the contest on an RBI single to leftfield.
- The Blazers' bats continued to struggle at the plate as they were only able to muster up two hits through five full innings of play.
- Belhaven finally came through in the sixth and took over the game.
- Makayla Reed opened up the top of the sixth with a leadoff walk. Cassidy Blount advanced Reed to second on sacrifice bunt to put her in scoring position.
- With one out, Marlee Blackwell doubled down the rightield line to score Reed from second to even the contest at 1-1.
- Whitney Jemison kept things going with a single in the next at-bat to put runners on the corners.
- Danielle Darmohray grounded out to shortstop, but would bring home Blackwell from third as BU took a 2-1 lead.
- Cassidy Comstock continued the offensive spurt with a single to right, which scored Jemison to make it 3-1 Blazers.
- Belhaven retired the side the last two innings to preserve the victory.
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- Game two
- The Blazers started game two on a strong note by scoring two runs in the top half of the first off of a fielder's choice from Cassidy Blount and an RBI infield groundout from Whitney Jemison.
- Jordan Self kept the Hardin-Simmons offense in check, and held the Cowgirls to just one hit through the first three innings.
- In the top of the fourth, the Blazers started things off with back-to-back singles from Comstock and Darmohray.
- The Green and Gold would tack on two more runs after Marissa Rice hit an RBI single to center field and then Kaitlyn Blubaugh recorded an RBI infield groundout which scored Comstock to make it 4-0.
- Hardin-Simmons found their own groove offensively in the fourth.
- HSU had base runners on second and third, and would bring two runners home in the inning to slice the deficit down to 4-2.
- The game took a major turn in the top of fifth as Belhaven would explode for eight runs.
- BU scored all eight runs in the half inning with two outs.
- Cassidy Blount first reached on a single to leftfield.
- Jemison reached on an error, followed by an RBI single from Darmohray to make it 5-2.
- Comstock would later reach on a fielding error as well, which scored Jemison.
- The inning continued on with a two-RBI single from Marissa Rice to make it 8-2.
- Later on in the inning, with the bases stacked, Marlee Blackwell hit a two-RBI single scoring three runs, with one run scoring off of an error.
- Toni Wilson connected on a single through the right side to score Blackwell as Belhaven led 12-2.
- The Blazers sat HSU down in order to end the game after five innings.
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KEY STATISTICS
- Game one
-. Jordan Herring pitched another complete game (her fourth this season) and improved to 4-0 inside the circle this season. Herring struck out four batters as well.
- Whitney Jemison collected a 2-3 performance at the plate with an RBI.
- Comstock and Blackwell posted an RBI and one hit apiece.
- Cassidy Blount and Meg Garton both recorded one-hit singles.
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- Game two
- Jordan Self improved to 5-0Â on the year after pitching all five innings.
- Self stuck out two hitters and gave up just four hits.
- Marrisa Rice went 2-3 and registered a team-high three RBI in the win.
- Cassidy Comstock, Marlee Blackwell, and Danielle Darmohray each tabbed two hits apiece. Blackwell recorded two RBI, while Darmohray added one.
- Belhaven notched 12 hits in total as a team.
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UP NEXT
Belhaven will face Hardin-Simmons tomorrow in the series finale. First pitch is scheduled to begin at noon.
For the latest news on Belhaven Blazers athletics, follow @BelhavenBlazers on Twitter and Instagram, and like us on Facebook.
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