JACKSON - Belhaven Softball put together a complete day on offense, and in the circle, on Saturday, sweeping a doubleheader against Piedmont with an 8-2 win in game one followed by a 7-1 victory in game two at McLeod Field.
Game 1: Belhaven 8, Piedmont 2
Belhaven's offense set the tone early and never let up, erupting for four runs in the second inning to take control. RBI doubles from Maddie Bruner and Liberty Gillihan, followed by an RBI single from Grace Langston and another run-scoring hit by Melissa Lopera, gave the Blazers a 4-0 lead.
After Piedmont trimmed the margin to 4-2 in the third, Belhaven responded immediately. Bruner delivered again with an RBI double in the third, and Reagan Bryan added the biggest swing of the game in the fourth—a two-run home run to extend the lead to 7-2.
Gillihan capped the scoring in the fifth with her second RBI double of the game.
Belhaven finished with 12 hits, led by Ellie Williamson's 3-for-3 performance at the plate. Bruner and Gillihan each drove in two runs, while Bryan added two RBI on her homer.
In the circle, Karley Rouse earned the win, allowing two runs over five innings. The bullpen combination of Laura Beth Nesmith and AR Sharp closed the door over the final two frames.
Game 2: Belhaven 7, Piedmont 1
The Blazers carried their momentum into game two, using timely hitting and capitalizing on Piedmont miscues to complete the sweep.
After a scoreless start, Belhaven struck first in the third inning when Maryanna Guy launched a two-run home run to give the Blazers a 2-0 lead.
Piedmont answered with a solo homer in the fourth, but Belhaven responded again in the bottom half. A sacrifice fly from Lauren Dunbar pushed the lead to 3-1 before the Blazers broke things open in the fifth.
Belhaven plated four runs in the inning, highlighted by an RBI single from Kaleigh Steverson and a two-run sequence fueled by an Ellie Williamson double and defensive errors that allowed multiple runs to score.
Belhaven made the most of its opportunities, drawing three walks and taking advantage of two Piedmont errors.
Macy Funderburk picked up the win in relief, tossing 2.2 scoreless innings, while the Belhaven pitching staff combined to hold Piedmont to just one run.
Next up for the Blazers is a trip to Tennessee next weekend for a conference clash against Maryville.
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