HOOVER, Ala. - The Belhaven University Softball team finished up their appearance at the Birmingham Southern Spring Classic dropping a pair of contests in their second day of action. In their first game of the day, the Blazers fell to the Piedmont College Lions by a final of 12-5, while in their final game against the host, Birmingham-Southern College Panthers, the Blazers dropped a close one as they Panthers won by a final of 5-4.

GAME ONE

The scoring started early in the game as the Lions got on the board in the top of the first plating a solo run to take a 1-0 lead; however, the Blazers responded with a run in the bottom of the second as sophomore Kennedy Carrruth drew a lead-off walk. Carruth later scored in the inning on a groundout by sophomore shortstop Maci Ziskin knotting up the game at 1 apiece.

The top of the third inning was the big inning for the Lions as they plated six runs to take a 7-1 lead over the Blazers. However, the Blazers continued to fight their way back in the game as they plated solo runs in the fourth and fifth innings. In the fourth inning sophomore third baseman Allie Gordon scored on a wild pitch after drawing a lead-off walk, while in the fifth inning junior outfielder Abbie Trahan doubled to reach base and then scored on a single by junior first baseman Elizabeth Taggard making the score 7-3.

The Lions added a single run in the sixth to increase their lead to 8-3, while the Blazers cut the lead down to three runs with a pair of scores in the bottom half of the inning. Sophomore outfielder Haley Hanson got the offense going with a lead-off single and sophomore catcher Anna McNeer followed that with a walk. Hanson was then called out on a fielder's choice by freshman shortstop Cade Bass, while McNeer and Bass later scored as Trahan reached on an error making the score 8-5.

The Lions added four runs in the top of the seventh and the Blazers went three up and three down in the bottom half of the inning to seal the 12-5 victory for the Lions.

Senior Bailey Root got the start in the circle for the Blazers and picked up the loss in the game. Root threw two innings allowing five runs, all earned, on four hits with three strikeouts and three walks. Junior Dallas Blaker threw four innings of relief work allowing three runs, all earned, on three hits with four walks, while sophomore Abby Prescott pitched one inning of relief allowing four runs, one earned, on three hits and had one strikeout. Haley Hanson was the leading hitter for the Blazers as she went 2-3 , while Elizabeth Taggard and Macy Ziskin lead the team in RBIs with one each. 

GAME TWO

The Blazers fell behind early in their second game of the day as the Panthers plated a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning to take an early 2-0 lead. The Blazers responded with a solo run in the second inning as Cade Bass hit her first home run of the season down the left field line making the score 2-1; however, the Panthers regained their two-run lead with a run in the bottom of the second and extended their lead with another run in the third inning making the score 4-1.

The Blazers added a run in the fourth inning as Haley Hanson reached on an error to start the inning and later scored on a single by freshman second baseman May Hebert. Cade Bass hit her second home run of the game, this time to left center field, in the sixth inning which cut the Panthers lead down to 4-3. The Lions plated a single run in the bottom of the sixth to increase their lead to 5-3 going to the final inning. The Blazers comeback effort in the seventh started with back-to-back walks for senior outfielder Marlee Blackwell and Elizabeth Taggard. Macy Ziskin and Elizabeth Platt were brought in as pinch runners for Blackwell and Taggard respectively after each player reached base. Both runners advanced on a passed ball and Ziskin scored on a groundout by Allie Gordon cutting the lead down to 5-4, but a groundout by Kennedy Carruth ended the Blazers comeback attempt and gave the Panthers the 5-4 victory.

Kennedy Carruth got the start for the Blazers and fell to 1-1 overall in the loss allowing five runs, all earned, on 13 hits with two strikeouts, two walks, and two hit batters. Cade Bass was the leading hitter for the Blazers offense as she went 2-3 at the plate with the two home runs and a team-high two RBIs for the game. Elizabeth Taggard, May Hebert, and Allie Gordon accounted for the Blazers other three hits during the game.

The Blazers are now 2-2 overall on the season and will return to action as they play host to the Birmingham-Southern College Panthers for their home opener on Wednesday, February 24. The doubleheader is set to start at 1 p.m., at McLeod Field.

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