Belhaven softball wins College World Series opener, advances to winner’s bracket

MARSHALL, Tx. (WLBT) – For the first time in program history, the Belhaven softball team took the field in the NCAA College World Series Friday. After a weather delay for the game, that was scheduled to be play Thursday evening, the 6-seed Blazers faced 3-seed Case Western Reserve University in the Division-III World Series.

The offense was provided in the third and sixth innings for the Blazers.

In the third, the runs came with two outs. Katie Jo Richardson started the rally with a walk. Natalie Parker singled to move Richardson to second, and Richardson was lifted for pinch-runner Jordan Kanipe. Kanipe then came home on an Anna Caime single to left field, and she and Parker advanced on the throw home. Mary Moore Widemire single to bring home Parker, and and Caime scored on a passed ball to make it 3-0.

In the sixth, with the score still 3-0, Allie Gordon hit a two-run home run to left center to score Madi Miller.

Kennedy Carruth, who has been so dominant for the Blazers this season, took the mound yet again in game one. Carruth allowed just one hit in the game, and while she allowed two runs, she struck out 12 Spartan batters in a 5-2 victory.

With the win, the Blazers advance to play the hosts, 2-seed East Texas Baptist, who they played in the 2021 and 2022 Regional rounds. The game is scheduled to start Friday evening at 5:00 p.m. CT, though the games are running behind schedule.

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