ABILENE, Texas - The Belhaven University Softball team opened their road portion of American Southwest Conference play with a doubleheader split against the McMurry War Hawks taking game one, 9-2, and dropping game two, 5-3.

GAME ONE

The Blazers got their scoring started early as they plated a solo run in the top of the first as Elizabeth Taggard got the Blazers going with a double and then later scored on a single by Kennedy Carruth giving the Blazers an early 1-0 lead. The War Hawks tied the game with a single run in the bottom of the second; however, the tie was short-lived as the Blazers scored two more runs in the third inning as Taggard hit a leadoff single followed by a walk for Allie Gordon. Both later scored on a single by Cade Bass giving the Blazers a 3-1 lead.

Three runs in the top of the fourth doubled the Blazers score as Alayna Adams was hit by the pitcher and then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Abby Trahan. Adams then scored on single by Marlee Blackwell, who was also thrown out at second trying to extend the hit to a double. Elizabeth Taggard then collected her third hit of the game with a single and then scored as Allie Gordon hit a two-run home run increasing the Blazers lead to 6-2.

The final run for the War Hawks came in the bottom of the fourth, while the Blazers added their final three runs in the top of the seventh as Kennedy Carruth hit a leadoff double and advanced to third on a groundout. Anna McNeer drew a walk and then stole second, while a throwing error allowed Carruth to score and McNeer advanced to third. Maci Brabham then drew a walk and stole second, while another throwing error allowed McNeer to score and Brabham to advance to third base. Brabham then scored on a single by Alayna Adams giving the Blazers a 9-2 lead. A three-up-and-three-down bottom of the seventh sealed the 9-2 win for the Blazers.

Kennedy Carruth drew the start in the circle for the Blazers and earned her fourth win (4-1 overall) in her fifth complete game of the 2021 season. Carruth allowed two runs, one earned, on five hits with two strikeouts and four walks. Elizabeth Taggard led the Blazers offensively with three of the total 12 team hits, while Kennedy Carruth had two. Marlee Blackwell, Allie Gordon, Cade Bass, Anna McNeer, Alayna Adams, Abby Trahan, and Marissa Rice all had one hit apiece during the game.

GAME TWO

The second game once again saw the Blazers score first with a solo run in the top of the first inning as Elizabeth Taggard singled and then later scored on a double by Kennedy Carruth. However, the War Hawks responded with a run in the bottom of the first to even up the game at one run apiece. The Blazers broke the tie with a single run in the top of the third as Allie Gordon reached base on a fielding error and then later scored as Cade Bass reached on a fielder's choice giving the Blazers a 2-1 lead.

The War Hawks big inning came in the bottom of the fourth as they plated four runs to take a 5-2 lead over the Blazers. However, the Blazers fought to the end as they plated one run in the top of the sixth as Abby Trahan singled and was followed up with Marlee Blackwell drawing a walk, while Trahan then scored on a double by Elizabeth Taggard. However, a lineout to right field ended the Blazers chance for more runs, but the Blazers trailed 5-3 after the sixth. The Blazers scoring opportunity in the seventh started with Cade Bass drawing a walk while Anna McNeer followed that with a single, but a lineout double play ended the game sealing the 5-3 win for the War Hawks.

Jovi Jones got the start in game two for the Blazers and picked up her first loss of the 2021 season (2-1 overall). Jones pitched three and one-third innings allowing four runs on four hits with one strikeout and three walks. Kennedy Carruth pitched two-thirds of an inning in a relief appearance allowing one run on two hits with one strikeout. Bailey Root pitched two innings of scoreless relief work allowing just one hit. Elizabeth Taggard and Kennedy Carruth were the leading hitters of the second game accounting for two hits apiece. Marlee Blackwell, Anna McNeer, Maci Brabham, and Abby Trahan had one hit each.

The Blazers are now 8-3 overall and 4-1 in ASC play and will finish up their series against the War Hawks with a single game on Saturday, March 6. The action is set to start at 12 p.m.

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