JACKSON, Miss. - The Belhaven Softball team opened up their ASC series against Concordia University on Friday with a 9-2 win over the Tornados as the Blazers improved to 4-1 on the year and 3-1 in conference play.

Kennedy Carruth got the start in the circle for the Blazers and opened up the game with three strikeouts in the first inning. The Blazers loaded the bases in the bottom half of the frame but were unable to find a breakthrough. It was Belhaven who struck first though when Marlee Blackwell delivered an RBI single with two outs that scored Macy Ziskin from second base. Carruth continued to cruise in the circle picking up her sixth and seventh strikeouts of the game in the third inning.

Belhaven added to their 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning with an offensive outburst that produced five runs on four hits. Kennedy Carruth drove in the first inning with an RBI double off the right field wall that scored pinch runner, Jordan Kanipe, from first. Abby Trahan then reached on a squeeze bunt attempt that also saw Kennedy Carruth score from third. Then with the bases loaded Marlee Blackwell delivered once again dropped a double out into shallow left field that scored all three baserunners and put Belhaven in front 6-0.

The Tornados were able to answer for the first time in the top of the fourth after a fielding error by the Blazers put Concordia in position to drive in a pair of unearned runs which cut the Belhaven lead down to 6-2. Belhaven quickly restored their six-run lead though with a two-RBI single from Abby Trahan that saw Allie Gordon score and Anna McNeer cross the plate after an error by Concordia. 

In the bottom of the fifth Belhaven picked up the final run of the game after a throwing error on an attempted double play let Marlee Blackwell score from second base which put the Blazers up 9-2 going into the sixth inning. 

BELHAVEN PITCHERS

Kennedy Carruth (W, 4-0) - 6.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 11 K
Dallas Blaker - 1.0 IP, 0 R

BELHAVEN BATTING LEADERS

Marlee Blackwell - 3-3, 4 RBI, R, BB
Allie Gordon - 2-4, RBI, R
Kennedy Carruth - 2-4, RBI, R
Abby Trahan - 1-3, 3 RBI, R, BB

Belhaven and Concordia will wrap up their series on Saturday when they square off in a doubleheader set to start at 11 AM.

For the latest news on Belhaven Blazers athletics, follow @BelhavenBlazers on Twitter and Instagram, and like us on Facebook.