DEMOREST, Ga. - The Belhaven Softball grabbed a pair of crucial conference wins on Thursday as they swept both ends of a CCS doubleheader against #25 Piedmont and moved atop the conference standings. 

GAME ONE

The opening game of the day began as a pitcher's duel as both starters held the opposition scoreless through the first three innings. Belhaven finally found the breakthrough in the top of the fourth inning as Sydney Runnels picked up an important RBI single that scored Ellie Jones.

The offense would be hard to come by for both teams as the middle innings progress with Kennedy Carruth holding the Lions to just one hit through the first six innings of the game. Leading 1-0 heading into the final frame, Belhaven come up with some crucial insurance runs to put the game out of reach. 

With one out in the top of the 7th, Anna Caime delivered a two-RBI base hit that plated Macy Ziskin and Anna McNeer before Madi Miller gave the Blazers a 4-0 run with a two-out triple.

BELHAVEN PITCHERS

Kennedy Carruth (W, 9-4): 7.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 6 K

BELHAVEN HITTING LEADERS

Sydney Runnels: 2-3, RBI
Anna Caime: 1-3, 2 RBI
Madi Miller: 1-4, 3B, RBI

GAME TWO

In the second game of the day the Blazers sent the same lineup out to start and once again the game featured dominance of the pitchers. Carruth was stout all game and held Piedmont scoreless through the first five innings of the game. 

After the Belhaven bats were held quiet through the first three innings the Blazers once again found a 4th inning breakthrough as Ellie Jones picked up an RBI single to give them the lead. Piedmont would level the score in the bottom of the 6th with a single, unearned run and the game headed to the final frame tied at 1-1. 

With two outs in the top of the 7th the Blazers turned to May Hebert as a pinch hitter and the Brandon, Mississippi native delivered with an RBI double that would eventually prove to be the game-winning hit.

BELHAVEN PITCHERS

Kennedy Carruth (W, 10-4): 7.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 4 K

BELHAVEN HITTING LEADERS

May Hebert: 1-1, 2B, RBI (Game-Winning RBI)
Madi Miller: 1-3, R
Ellie Jones: 1-3, RBI

The Blazers improved to 18-11 with the wins and 10-2 in conference play. That moves Belhaven to first in the Collegiate Conference of the South standings as the 2023 regular season approaches the home stretch.

Belhaven will take on rival Millsaps next with a doubleheader against the Majors set for Tuesday, April 11th at 5 PM.

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