ABILENE, Texas - The Belhaven Softball team completed their road series against the Hardin-Simmons University Cowgirls with a 5-3 victory to earn the series sweep on Saturday, March 7.

The Blazers got on the board first in the game with a solo run in the second inning as junior Elizabeth Taggard hit a leadoff single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by sophomore Haley Hanson. Taggard then advanced to third as junior Keirra Fair reached on an error and later scored on a wild pitch to give the Blazers a 1-0 lead. Another solo run in the third inning increased the Blazers lead as the inning started with back-to-back walks for junior Sarah Depperschmidt and senior Marlee Blackwell. Freshman Madison Miller then reached on a fielder's choice as Depperschmidt advanced to third while Blackwell was out at second. Depperschmidt then scored on an RBI single by sophomore Allie Gordon making the score 2-0.

The Cowgirls plated solo runs in the bottom of the third and fifth innings to tie the game; however, the Blazers regained the lead with a three-run top of the seventh as Blackwell started the inning off by reaching on an error and then senior Mariah Sosa was brought in as a pinch runner. Miller then singled and both runners scored as Gordon smashed a three run home run, her third of the season and second of the series, to give the Blazers a 5-2 lead. The Cowgirls tallied a solo run in the seventh and had the game-tying runs in scoring position; however, a pop-out brought the scoring threat to an end sealing the 5-3 victory and series sweep for the Blazers.

Senior Bailey Root got the start in the circle for the Blazers and pitched a complete game earning her fifth win of the season. Root allowed three runs, two earned, on five hits with three strikeouts, two walks, and one hit-by-pitch.

The Blazers improve to 9-3 overall and 7-2 in American Southwest Conference play and will return to action this week with a neutral site game against the Becker College Hawks in Clarmont, Florida. First pitch for the game is set for 8 a.m., on Tuesday, March 10.

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