AUSTIN, Texas - The Belhaven Softball team opened American Southwest Conference play on the road with a sweep against the Concordia University Tornados, 3-2 and 8-2, on Friday, February 21.

Game One
In the first game, the Blazers fell behind early as the Tornadoes took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. The Tornados lead was short-lived as the Blazers answered with two runs in the top of the second started off with a double by senior outfielder Marlee Blackwell. Blackwell later scored the first run on a single by senior pitcher Bailey Root, who then later scored on an RBI groundout by junior shortstop Abby Mondy, giving the Blazers a 2-1 lead.

The Tornados tied the game with a run in the bottom of the third inning, while the Blazers re-gained the lead in the sixth inning as sophomore outfielder Haley Hanson led off the inning with a single then stole second. Hanson advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Root and then scored on an RBI double by junior outfielder Abby Trahan. The Blazers sealed the win as Root pitched a three up, three down bottom half and then junior Hannah Finley came in to close out the game in the seventh.

Bailey Root started for the Blazers and pitched six innings allowing two runs, one earned, on three hits, with five walks and four strikeouts earning her second win of the season, while Hannah Finley threw one inning of relief allowing one hit with one walk and one strikeout picking up her first save of the season.

Game Two
The second game of the double-header started the same way as the first with the Tornados taking a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Once again, the Blazers responded in the top of the second, this time with three runs to take the lead which was never relinquished. Hanson started the inning with a leadoff walk, then stole second, and scored on an RBI double by junior first baseman Elizabeth Taggard. Taggard then scored as Trahan hit an RBI single and advanced to second on an error. Trahan advanced to third on a passed ball and then scored on an RBI sacrifice bunt by junior shortstop Sarah Depperschmidt, giving the Blazers a 3-1 lead.

The Tornados cut the lead down to one with a solo run in the bottom of the third, while the Blazers responded with their final five runs of the game in the fourth inning. Taggard led off the inning getting hit by a pitch, and later advanced to second as Trahan drew a walk. The Blazers loaded the bases after Depperschmidt was the second hit-by-pitch of the inning. Bailey Root reached on a fielder's choice as Taggard scored on a throwing error, increasing the Blazers lead to 4-2. Freshman outfielder Madison Miller, junior outfielder Kierra Fair, and sophomore third baseman Allie Gordon drew consecutive walks allowing Trahan, Depperschmidt, and Root to score pushing the Blazers lead to 7-2. The final run of the inning came as Taggard drew a walk in her second at-bat of the inning scoring Miller, making the score 8-2 in favor of the Blazers.

Junior Dallas Blaker got the start for the Blazers and pitched six innings allowing two runs, one earned, on eight hits with one walk, one hit-by-pitch, and one strikeout earning her first win of the season, while junior Hannah Finley pitched one inning of relief with one strikeout.

The Blazers improve to 3-1 overall and 2-0 in American Southwest Conference play and will play the third game of the series against Concordia on Saturday, February 22. The rubber match between the Blazers and the Tornados starts at Noon.

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