JACKSON, Miss. – LeTourneau University's softball team knocked off the No. 7 team in the nation Sunday in a thrilling 10-inning 2-1 win at Belhaven in the second game of a doubleheader.
 
Katelyn Trombley ripped a two-run double to left after Mickenzie Murry singled to break a scoreless game in the top of the 10th. After Belhaven's Hailey Hanson produced an RBI groundout in the bottom half of the inning, LETU starter Bailey Richey shut the door.
 
Richey (7-2) went the distance, tying the school record with 13 strikeouts. Her 13 strikeouts matched Taylor Thibodeaux's total versus Greenville (Ill.) on March 13, 2012 in Forney, Texas.
 
The win snapped Belhaven's seven-game win streak, and was LeTourneau's second over a ranked team for the second straight season. Last year, the YellowJackets (12-10, 11-9 American Southwest Conference) beat No. 12 Central Iowa at the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Leadoff Classic in Tucson, Arizona.
 
LeTourneau lost the first game of the doubleheader Sunday, 4-3, falling short after rallying for three runs in its final at-bat to nearly force extra innings.
 
Richey's five hitter in Game 2 was magnificent. She allowed two walks, and the run she gave up was unearned against a team that was hitting .321 collectively. It came against an opponent who boasted the reigning NFCA National Hitter of the Week in Elizabeth Taggard, whom Richey struck out twice in an 0-for-4 game at the plate.
 
Bailey Root (6-3) suffered the loss after giving up eight hits and six walks.
 
Emilee Anderson was 2-for-3. Trombley was 2-for-5. Hana Bonner was 2-for-5 with a stolen base. Lauren Wilking was 1-for-3 with a double. Murry went 1-for-3 with a stolen base.
 
Wilking was placed on second to open the 10^th. Murry singled, moving Wilking to third. Murry then stole second, before Trombley knocked them in. After Callie Poore's line shot was snagged, doubling up Trombley, Ashley Crawford drew a two-out walk. The Blazers brought in first game starter Kennedy Carruth to record the final out.
 
In the Blazers' half of the inning, Carruth was placed on second. Immediately, Jovi Jones came on to run for her. Cade Bass and Anna McNeer drew back-to-back walks to load the bases. Hanson grounded out, allowing Jones to score. Richey then got Macy Brabham and Abby Trahan to pop out to end the game.

It was Richey's longest career outing, and was her sixth complete game of the season -- all victories. Her 13 strikeouts marked the third straight year she's recorded double digit strikeouts in a game, having fanned 11 in each of her first two seasons as a YellowJacket.
 
In the first game, Belhaven (24-7, 16-4) scored twice in the first, once in the second and another in the sixth to take a four-run lead into the seventh. That's when it got interesting.
 
With two on and one out, LETU pinch hitter Isabela Tresca singled to right center to score courtesy runner Brooke Vaughn. Anderson re-entered the game to run for Tresca, and stole second. Wilking grounded out, allowing Graci Hart, who came on to run for Ethel Warren, to score. That made it 4-2. Hunter Handley walked, putting runners at the corners. Murry came on to run for Handley. A wild pitch by Carruth allowed Anderson to race home, while Murry advanced to second and then third, representing the tying run. But the Jackets couldn't push the tying run across, and the Blazers held on.
 
Poore and Tresca accounted for both of LeTourneau's hits in the opener.
 
Carruth (15-2) picked up the win after striking out 10, and walking four. She hit two batters. Jade Merrell (2-3) suffered the loss, allowing three earned runs on eight hits and a walk.
 
The rubber game of the series is set for 2 p.m. Monday.