CLEVELAND, Miss. - The Belhaven Blazers secured their first ASC Championship on Sunday as they took down the East Texas Baptist University Tigers twice with a pair of thrilling, close wins in the ASC Tournament. The tournament win ensures Belhaven will make their second straight NCAA Tournament appearance after clinching an at-large bid last season. 

GAME ONE

The first game of the day for the Blazers was played with the focus on forcing a winner-take-all final game as the Tigers needed to be beaten twice in the double elimination format. ETBU struck first in the top of the 1st after a two-out single scored a baserunner from second base.

Belhaven was quick to answer though manufacturing a run in the bottom of the same inning after Allie Gordon singled and then advanced to third base on a wild pitch-throwing error combo. Gordon would score with two outs after Ellie Jones struck out swinging but reached first safely on a dropped third strike which let Gordon cross the plate. 

From there the game was a pitcher's duel with Gracey Baucom and Kennedy Carruth combining in the circle to keep the Tigers off the board for six straight innings and putting the Blazers' in a position to win it.

The opportunity for Belhaven came when pinch runner Jordan Kanipe attempted a stolen base in the bottom of the 6th inning that forced the Tigers into a throwing error. Advancing to third on the error it was an aggressive base-running decision that sent Kanipe to the plate on the same play where she edged out a throw from center field and put Belhaven in front 2-1. 

BELHAVEN PITCHERS

Gracey Baucom: 2.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, BB
Kennedy Carruth (W, 22-3): 5.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 5 K

BELHAVEN BATTING LEADERS

Allie Gordon: 1-3, R
Macy Ziskin: 1-2
Ellie Jones: 1-3
Haley Hanson: 1-3

GAME TWO 

In what was the final game of the tournament and a winner-take-all final contest the runs were hard to come by for both clubs. Both teams went in order in the 1st inning before the Blazers got the first hit of the game in the 2nd inning on an Ellie Jones base hit. Jones' hit wouldn't produce a run and both teams went hitless until the top of the 4th when Jones grabbed her second hit of the day, a double to right center field however Belhaven would once again come up empty.

Kennedy Carruth kept the Tigers out of the hit column until the bottom of the 4th when they picked up a leadoff single but the Belhaven starter was able to combine with shortstop Macy Ziskin on a little tournament magic when ETBU tried to swipe second and Carruth's pitch slipped backwards to Ziskin who tagged the runner out between bags. 

Both teams remained scoreless as the game progressed and in the bottom of the 6th it was ETBU who looked most likely to score after getting a walk and a base hit to open the frame. After a passed ball put the Tigers' runners in scoring position and a subsequent walk loaded the bases Carruth was able to escape the jam unscathed with a foul out to left field. 

Belhaven was unable to score a go-ahead run in the 7th and in the bottom half of the final frame the Tigers were able to get a pair of runners in scoring position with a chance to walk it off. With two outs in the inning Carruth sailed a pitch to the backstop but catcher Anna McNeer was able to grab the ball on a bounce and flip it to Carruth tagging out the winning run at the plate to send the game to extras. 

The Blazers' would go in order in the top of the 8th and after the leadoff hitter reached for the Tigers in the bottom of the frame Carruth was able to set down the remaining ETBU hitters in order to take the game to the 9th inning. 

With two outs in the 9th, Sydney Runnels would work a walk on a full count pitch to put the go-ahead run on base. Macy Ziskin then followed suit with a full count walk of her own putting two BU runners on base with two outs. May Hebert would get the opportunity as a pinch hitter to be the hero and the Brandon, Mississippi native delivered with a two-RBI base hit to right field that put the Blazers in front 2-0.

With the lead and a chance to finish the game Kennedy Carruth and the Belhaven defense retired the Tigers in order on three groundouts to secure the conference title. 

BELHAVEN PITCHERS

Kennedy Carruth (W, 23-3): 9.0 IP, 6 H, 0 ER, 5 K

BELHAVEN BATTING LEADERS

May Hebert: 1-1, 2 RBI
Ellie Jones: 2-3
Sydney Runnels: 1-2, R

ALL-TOURNAMENT ATHLETES

Gracey Baucom: 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 2 K, Win vs. Hardin-Simmons (elimination game)
Ellie Jones: 6-14, 3 2B, HR, 5 RBI, 2 R, 3 BB
May Hebert: 1-3, 2 RBI, Game-Winning RBIs in Championship Game)

TOURNAMENT MVP

Kennedy Carruth: 28.0 IP, 18 H, 4 R, 1 ER, 21 K (Wins vs. Hardin-Simmons, ETBU twice) 

Belhaven will find out their Regional destination on Monday in the NCAA Tournament Selection Show. The Blazers took home the regular season ASC Championship this season as well for the second straight year.