JACKSON, Miss. - After earning the top seed and sweeping through the Belhaven Bracket a weekend ago, the Belhaven Softball team captured the first-ever Collegiate Conference of the South Championship after downing Maryville twice on Thursday at Jim McLeod Field. Ellie Jones homered twice to lead Belhaven to a 5-3 win in the opener before a five-run outburst in the 1st inning propelled the Blazers to an 8-2 win in the second game to secure the CCS title.

GAME ONE

After both teams went down in order in the 1st, Ellie Jones kicked the home half of the 2nd off in a big way with a home run to straightaway center. Jones followed it up with a two-run shot in the 3rd that cleared the scoreboard to give Belhaven a 3-0 lead. 

The Blazers tacked on another in the frame to extend the lead heading into the later innings. In the bottom of the 6th, Taylor Heaton came through with a pinch-hit RBI double to put the fifth Belhaven run on the board. That was more than enough for Belhaven starter and CCS Pitcher of the Year Kennedy Carruth, who faced the minimum through the first six innings. 

The Scots were finally able to break through for three runs in the 7th, but their rally fell short as catcher Anna McNeer picked a Maryville base runner off at first base to end the game and give the Blazers a 1-0 lead in the series. 

BELHAVEN PITCHERS

Kennedy Carruth (W, 16-4): 7.0 IP (CG), 3 H, 3 R, 6 K

BELHAVEN HITTING LEADERS

Ellie Jones: 2-3, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 2 R
Sydney Runnels: 2-2, 3B, BB, R
Taylor Heaton: 1-1, 2B, RBI

GAME TWO

Belhaven, the designated visiting team in Game Two, got straight to work in the 1st with a five-run frame. Kennedy Carruth helped herself out with a sacrifice fly to score Madi Miller just three batters in. Ellie Jones continued to swing a hot bat as she delivered an RBI single. The Blazers picked up their third via small ball as Anna McNeer laid down a squeeze bunt to score the third run of the inning.

RBI base hits from Macy Ziskin and Anna Caime added the final two runs of the big frame for Belhaven. The Scots got a run back in the bottom half, but the Blazers immediately responded with a run of their own in the top of the 2nd. 

Neither team found the scoreboard in the middle innings as Belhaven took a commanding 6-1 lead into the bottom of the 5th. Maryville plated one on an RBI triple, but Belhaven got out of the inning without any further damage. 

Up 6-2 in the 6th, Jones capped off her outstanding day at the plate with yet another home run to extend the Blazers' lead to six. The visitors were able to load the bases in their final at-bat, but Carruth shut the door with a strikeout to clinch the CCS Championship for the Blazers.  

BELHAVEN PITCHERS

Kennedy Carruth (W, 17-4): 5.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 7 K
Gracey Baucom: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R
Natalie Parker: 1.0 IP, 1 K
Taylor Heaton: 3 BF

BELHAVEN HITTING LEADERS

Madi Miller: 3-5, R, SB
Ellie Jones: 2-3, HR, 4 RBI, 2 R, BB
Sydney Runnels: 2-4, 2B, R

The Blazers (29-11) are now in wait-and-see mode in regard to NCAA Tournament play after securing the CCS Championship sweep (regular season and tournament). The NCAA Regionals are set to begin May 18th. 

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