ABILENE, Texas – McMurry University Softball got off to a rough start in its home opener at Edwards Field on Friday afternoon, but bounced back well en route to a doubleheader split with Belhaven in an American Southwest Conference series.
The Blazers (8-3, 4-1 ASC) took game one with a 9-2 victory, but the War Hawks (3-2, 3-2 ASC) responded with an impressive 5-3 win in game two sparked by a three-run double off the bat of true freshman Grace Duecker and strong pitching from senior Bekah Chance.
The rubber match is set for Saturday at 11 a.m.
Game 1: Belhaven 9, McMurry 2
Coming off a three-game sweep of Hardin-Simmons last weekend, Belhaven extended its win streak behind a strong pitching performance from Kennedy Carruth. The sophomore has won ASC East Division Pitcher of the Week the last two weeks and limited McMurry's strong offense to two runs in 7.0 innings.
Before even taking the circle, Carruth helped her own cause in the top frame with an RBI single as Belhaven had an early 1-0 lead.
McMurry answered that run in the second inning on a thrilling squeeze play, as sophomore Brianna Martinez bunted home freshman Jesse Stephenson for the tying run. Stephenson slid under the tag and touched home just in time for the run.
The Blazers added a two-RBI single in the third, a one-RBI single in the fourth and a two-run homer to extend the lead. McMurry had a sacrifice fly by junior Kayla Otis to score Sydney King in the bottom of the fourth, but that would be its final run for game one. Belhaven added its final three runs in the seventh.
McMurry totaled five hits from five different players, including a double by Emily Michki to lead off the fourth inning. Belhaven had 12 hits in the win.
Pitchers of record:
W – Kennedy Carruth (4-1)
L – Camille Scott (1-1)
Game 2: McMurry 5, Belhaven 3
A four-run rally in the fourth inning and a pitching gem from senior Bekah Chance in her season debut highlighted a 5-3 win in the nightcap to even the series.
Chance pitched the entire game and earned the quality start with just three runs allowed over 7.0 innings. She threw well over 100 pitches and battled back from a five walk outing to earn five strikeouts.
The second game started similar to the first one, as each team posted early runs in the first frame. Carruth doubled to right center for Belhaven's first run, then Emily Michki hit one over the left fielder to score Sydney King and tie the game.
After Belhaven scored one more in the third, McMurry went to work in the fourth. A one-out walk to Maisa Ryerson began the rally and later led to a Mickhayla Nunez single and Jessica Truax walk to load the bases up. The prompted Belhaven to call Carruth back into pitch for Jovi Jones.
King returned at the top of the order and fell behind 0-2 on the first couple of pitches from Carruth, but that didn't phase her. King rolled one through the left side to score Stephenson as the pinch runner and tie the game at 2-2.
The bases remained loaded for shortstop Grace Duecker, who smashed her first career hit into the gap for a three-run double to put McMurry on top 5-2.
Belhaven stranded five runners in the final three frames, as Chance tight-roped her way to victory despite allowing one more run in the sixth. The final two outs came in dramatic fashion with two runners on and the go-ahead run at the plate, as Duecker caught a lineout and threw over to first for a game-ending double play.
King finished with a 2-for-3 day at the plate and reached in three of her four plate appearances with a walk.
Pitchers of record:
W – Bekah Chance (1-0)
L – Jovi Jones (2-1)
On Deck
The series will be on the line tomorrow morning with first pitch set for 11 a.m.
