JACKSON, Miss. - The Belhaven University Softball team opened American Southwest Conference play with a home doubleheader against the Hardin-Simmons University Cowgirls on Friday, February 26. The Blazers swept the doubleheader taking game one, 3-1, while an offensive explosion led to a 12-0 win in game two.

GAME ONE

The Blazers scored all of their runs in the second inning as Cade Bass drew a lead-off walk and then scored as Anna McNeer followed her with a triple. McNeer scored on the play thanks to a throwing error giving the Blazers a 2-0 lead. Alayna Adams followed with a single and then later scored on a single by Marlee Blackwell. 

Kennedy Carruth was the star for the Blazers with a dominant performance in the circle. Carruth pitched a complete game and had a no-hitter effort broken up in the sixth inning and did not allow a baserunner until the fifth inning. Carruth improved to 3-1 with the win and finished the game allowing just one hit with 12 strikeouts, one walk, and two hit batters.

Allie Gordon and Alayna Adams both led the Blazers offense with two hits apiece, while Marlee Blackwell, Kennedy Carruth, and Anna McNeer accounted for the other three of seven total hits for the Blazers. Blackwell and McNeer had a team-high one RBI each.

GAME TWO

The second game saw the Blazers score all 12 runs in the first three inning starting with a solo run in the first inning as Marlee Blackwell drew a lead-off walk, but was out at second as Elizabeth Taggard reached on a fielder's choice. Taggard later scored on a sacrifice fly by Kennedy Carruth to give the Blazers a 1-0 lead. The Blazers added a pair of runs in the second inning as Cade Bass led off the inning with a solo home run to left field while Macy Brabham followed her up by drawing a walk. Brabham later scored on a single by Blackwell to give the Blazers a 3-0 lead.

The third inning was the big one for the Blazers as they sent 14 batters to the plate and scored nine runs. A Kennedy Carruth single followed by a walk for Anna McNeer and a single by Cade Bass loaded the bases for the Blazers. Carruth scored on a single by Brabham as McNeer and Bass scored on a double by May Hebert. Marlee Blackwell drew a walk to once again give the Blazers a bases loaded scoring situation. Brabham and Hebert scored as Elizabeth Taggard reached on an error, while Blackwell scored on a groundout by Allie Gordon. Taggard then scored as Carruth reached on an error in her second plate appearance of the inning. Carruth then scored on a double by McNeer, who then scored the final run of the inning on a single by Cade Bass giving the Blazers a 12-0 lead.

The Cowgirls had just two baserunners in the final two innings with neither making it past second base as the Blazers pitching staff sealed the win and sweep of the doubleheader.

Jovi Jones drew the start in the circle for the Blazers. The freshman pitched three and two-thirds innings and improved to 2-0 on the season allowing just one hit with one strikeout, three walks, and two hit batters. Dallas Blaker pitched the final one and one-third innings in a relief appearance for the Blazers. The senior faced just five batters during her outing and had one walk on the day.

The Blazers improve to 6-2 overall and 2-0 in ASC play and have now won five straight conference games dating back to the pandemic shortened 2020 season. The Blazers and Cowgirls will finish their series with a single game on Saturday, February 27, with first pitch set for 12 p.m.

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