JACKSON, Miss. - It was a historic night at McLeod Field on Thursday as No. 8 Belhaven cruised to a doubleheader sweep of LaGrange, 8-0 and 9-0, in the program's first-ever night game at home. In the opener, Kennedy Carruth became Belhaven's all-time leader in career strikeouts with 758 in her impressive four-year Blazer career.

GAME ONE

The Blazers' offense got going early in the opener as back-to-back RBI singles from Ellie Jones and Katie Jo Richardson gave Belhaven a 2-0 lead in the first. Two more came across to score to put the Blazers up 4-0 after one. 

Madi Miller tripled in Sarah Stockstill in the second to add to the lead. Back-to-back homers from Allie Gordon and Kennedy Carruth to push the Blazers' lead to 8-0 heading into the third. 

Once again, Carruth was dominant in the circle, allowing just two hits and striking out four en route to her fifth shutout of the season. Her record-breaking moment came on the last batter of the game as Carruth fanned a Panther hitter in the top of the fifth to reach No. 758 and secure another run-rule victory for Belhaven.

Notable Performances

Kennedy Carruth (W, 14-1): 5.0 IP, CG, 2 H, 4 K
Kennedy Carruth: 1-3, HR, 2 R, RBI
Allie Gordon: 2-3, HR, 2 RBI, R
Madi Miller: 1-2, 3B, RBI, 2 R, BB

GAME TWO

The nightcap proved to be much like the opener as the Blazers' bats once again put a crooked number on the board in the first. Taylor Heaton hit her first home run of the season, a three-run shot to open the scoring. Back-to-back RBI doubles from Allie Gordon and Kennedy Carruth in the second extended the lead to 6-0. 

Carruth came around to score on another RBI hit from Ellie Jones as Belhaven put up four runs in the second. Gordon picked up her third RBI of the game in the third on a fielder's choice, and Maddie Russell capped off the Belhaven scoreline in an emphatic way, delivering a pinch-hit solo home run to right for her first career longball.

Three Belhaven pitchers combined to throw a two-hit shutout with six strikeouts, including three from Macy Funderburk in the fifth.

Notable Performances

Belle West (W, 5-0): 3.0 IP, 2 H, 3 K
Taylor Heaton: 1-1, HR, 3 RBI, R, BB
Maddie Russell: 1-1, HR, RBI, R
Allie Gordon: 1-3, 2B, 3 RBI, R
Kennedy Carruth: 1-1, 2B, RBI, 2 R
Ellie Jones: 2-2, RBI, R

Belhaven wraps up a grueling week tomorrow with a marquee conference matchup against No. 12 Huntingdon. First pitch of the doubleheader is set for 3:00 PM.

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