JACKSON, Miss. - The Belhaven Softball team cruised to a doubleheader sweep of Wesleyan College on Saturday as they kicked off conference play for the 2023 campaign. The Blazers grabbed both wins in run rule fashion behind dominant pitching and productive hitting.

GAME ONE

The Blazers took down Wesleyan 8-0 in the first game of the day behind one of the most dominant pitching performances in Belhaven history. Kennedy Carruth racked up a career-high 18 strikeouts as every out recorded in the 6 inning contest came via a strikeout. 

Carruth struck out the first 11 batters of the game for Wesleyan before the Wolves got what would be their lone base hit on the day. Belhaven opened the scoring in the first inning on Allie Gordon's RBI single before grabbing another run in the third frame when Madi Miller scored on a wild pitch. 

The Blazers opened up a gap between teh two teams when Kennedy Carruth picked up a two-run HR to center field in the fifth inning. Leading 4-0 heading into the sixth frame, Belhaven was able to walk it off in the sixth via run rule as they added four runs including a pair on Ellie Jones' two-run homer. 

BELHAVEN PITCHERS

Kennedy Carruth (W, 6-3): 6 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 18 SO

BELHAVEN HITTERS

Madi Miller: 3-4, 2B, RBI, 3 R
Allie Gordon: 2-4, 3B, 2 RBI, R
Kennedy Carruth: 2-3, HR, 2B, 2 RBI
Ellie Jones: 2-4, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R

GAME TWO

The second game between the Blazers and the Wolves followed a different script from the first as it was Wesleyan who jumped out to an early lead behind a pair of runs in the first inning. Belhaven though answered quickly as Ellie Jones tied the game with a two-run homer before Anna Caime put the Blazers in front with a two-run home run of her own. 

In the third inning Belhaven put the game to rest behind an 11-run frame that launched the Blazers out to a 15-4 lead. It started on Madeline Bullock's RBI single and the Blazers would proceed to score nine straight runs without recording an out.

After the big inning, Wesleyan would grab a couple of runs back but in the end, the lead was too much to overcome as the Blazers picked up the five inning victory to start conference play 2-0. 

BELHAVEN PITCHERS

Gracey Baucom (W, 4-3): 3.0 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 4 SO
Ashlynn Jenkins: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 2 ER, 1 SO
Taylor Heaton: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 3 SO

BELHAVEN HITTERS

Anna Caime: 3-3, HR, 2B, 4 RBI, 3 R
Ellie Jones: 1-1, HR, 2 RBI
Madeline Bullock: 1-1, 2 RBI
Madison Miler: 1-3, 2B, RBI

The Blazers will have a quick turnaround in conference play as they host Agnes Scott on Monday, March 20th after that doubleheader was rescheduled from Friday due to weather. 

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