Coach Leslie Messina Earns Her 400th Career Win as Blackburn Sweeps Doubleheader

Blackburn College Women's Softball Coach Leslie Messina picked up her 400th win as a collegiate head coach as the Beavers swept Principia College on Tuesday night in Carlinville by the 10-0 and 9-1. 

In game one of the Tuesday doubleheader, Blackburn would shut out the Panthers by the score of 10-0 as pitcher Taylor Girth would continue her dominant season by going five innings and giving up one hit. She would earn her sixth win of the season. The Beavers would start the game slowly on offense but would explode for six runs in the fourth inning to put the game away. Sophomore Holly Heuerman would lead the Beavers by going 3-3 with an RBI. 

The second game of the doubleheader would start a little differently. Blackburn would pile up eight runs in the first two innings to put the game away early. Jesse Tomson would follow Girth and have a great pitching performance giving up one run in five innings of work and earning the win. Grace Mackey would have two RBIs with a base hit. 

Coach Messina would get to the very impressive 400 win mark for her career while getting Blackburn back over .500 for the season at 11-9. Messina had 389 wins coming into this season with 247 coming at Texarkana College and another 142 coming at Kilgore College.

"Congratulations to Coach Messina on her 400th career win.  This is an incredible accomplishment and we're proud to have her on our staff," said Blackburn College Athletic Director Rob Steinkuehler.  "She's had a great career and she's making an impact on Blackburn Softball.  We look forward to continued success on and off the diamond," added Steinkuehler.