THE RUNDOWN

AUSTIN, Texas – The Belhaven University softball team swept Concordia University Texas in a doubleheader on Friday afternoon to claim the series in American Southwest Conference action. Belhaven took game one by the final score 5-2. The Blazers carried their momentum over to game two defeating the Tornados by a final score of 4-3. 

In game one of the doubleheader, the Blazers and Tornados had three hits combined in the first two innings of play, until CTX scored first off a squeeze bunt to make the score 1-0 after two complete innings.

The Green and Gold added two more hits in the top of the third inning, but could not plate the runners. Concordia did not do any more damage in the bottom half of the inning, as the score remained 1-0 after three innings.

Brister Curry led off the fourth inning with an infield single and came around to score, after Carly Ingle hit a fielder's choice to make the score 1-1. 

The Blazers loaded the bases in the top of the fifth inning and scored three runs off of a fielder's choice and a two-run RBI single from Brister Curry as the Blazers took the 4-1 lead.

Still in the fifth inning, Abby Allen came in to pinch run for Danielle Darmohray and would come around to score off of an throwing error, to bring the score 5-1. The Tornados came up to bat and went 1-2-3 heading into the sixth inning.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Tornados added a run off of an error by the Blazers to cut the lead to 5-2.

Belhaven's defense held strong in the seventh, as the Blazers claim the 5-2 victory in game one of the doubleheader. 

In game two, the Tornados got thing rolling quickly in the bottom of the first inning after a RBI-single to take an early 1-0 lead.

Cassie Shipley was lights out the next two innings, as she shut down Concordia's offense.

In the top of the fourth inning, Allie Gordon doubled to left field to lead off the inning for the Blazers. Two batters later, Brister Curry drilled an RBI-single down the right field line to plate Gordon to tie the ball game up at 1-1.

The Tornados had two hits and two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to take the 3-1 advantage over the Blazers.

The Green and Gold battled back from the deficit to regain the lead in the top of the fifth inning, as Marlee Blackwell hit a two-run single to score Anna Peyton Montesti and Brittany Chetta to bring the score to 4-3.

Over the next two inngs, the Blazers continued to be dominant and took game two of the doubleheader and the series by a final score of 4-3.

BU Head Coach Kevin Griffin Comments on the Doubleheader Sweep 

"Our girls battled all weekend.  We had contributions offensively up and down the order and it's fun to see things come together. Kassie Shipley was great in the circle for us.  I never hesitated to start her again in game two after pitching so well in the first game.  She gave us the best chance to win and came up with two great performances.  I'm proud of how hard she works on a daily basis and she deserves the success that she is having."

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

Brister Curry led the Blazers going 2-for-3 from the plate with two RBI and scored a run in game one of the doubleheader.

Allie Gordon had a strong outing posting two hits and scored a run.

Marlee Blackwell, Bailey Root, Danielle Darmohray , Grace Whitworth, Carly Ingle, and Anna Peyton Montesti each tallied a hit in the ballgame for the Blazers.

Kassie Shipley earned the win in the circle for the Green and Gold in game one. She threw a complete game and only gave up three hits in the contest.

Marlee Blackwell scored 2RBI, while Allie Gordon and Brister Curry posted an RBI in game two of the doubleheader.

Brittany Chetta went 2-for 2 from the plate and scored a run.

As a team, the Blazers collected six hits and scored four runs. 

In the circle, Kassie Shipley was a dominant force once again going the distance to throw 14 straight innings with the games combined. She allowed only four hits and three runs in the doubleheader sweep.

UP NEXT

The Blazers will travel to Macon, Ga. to square off in a doubleheader with Wesleyan College on Monday, April 15^th. First pitch is set for 2:30 p.m. with game two to follow.

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