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Riverside, CA-The Belhaven softball team got the 2009 season underway with a win and a loss at the California Baptist University Lancer Invitational Thursday afternoon. The Lady Blazers opened the day with a 3-2 win over Southern Oregon University and then lost their second game to #3 California Baptist 9-1 who starts the year 2-0.

                                          

In game one versus Southern Oregon, Belhaven fell behind early after the Lady Raiders plated the first run of the game in the bottom of the second inning. First baseman Bailey Price singled to left center to begin the inning and was sacrificed to second by Justine Fulton on a bunt. After Joelle Riekman flied out to right field, Karla Alvarez delivered a two out single plating Price from third base.

 

Belhaven came back to knot the score in the top of the sixth inning. Shortstop Heather Pace stepped to the plate and sent a two out double into the right center field gap to get into scoring position. Left fielder Mallory Meadows then came through with a triple to right field scoring Pace from second to make the score 1-1. Unfortunately, Southern Oregon rallied in the bottom of the inning to reclaim a 2-1 advantage. Meghan Laughlin single to begin the inning and came around to score on a base hit by Fulton.

 

The Lady Blazers answered in the top of the seventh plating two runs to take the lead for good. Salina Cervantes got the rally going with a double to right field and went to third on a base hit by Britanee Pace. Pace then stole second and Cervantes scored on an errant throw by catcher Sara Stenson with Pace taking third base. Following a strikeout, Britney Webb delivered a single bringing home Pace in what would prove to be the winning run. Belhaven pitcher Ashley Mottola set the Lady Raiders down in order in the bottom of the seventh to close out the game.

 

Mottola worked all seven innings giving up two runs while striking out five Southern Oregon batters in route to her first win of the season. Meadows and Heather Pace led the offense going 2 for 3 at plate. Jordyn Kurtz suffered the loss for the Lady Raiders giving up three runs in seven innings of work.

 

The Lady Blazers matched up with the third ranked Lady Lancers in game two of the afternoon and couldn't do much to stop them. The game was tied 1-1 after two innings of play, but California Baptist got their offense cranked up scoring two runs in the third, four in the fourth, and two in the fifth to pick up the 9-1 win in five innings.

 

Mallory Meadows drove home the only run of the game for the Lady Blazers in the bottom of the second on her first home run of the season over the center field fence. Salina Cervantes took the loss going 3.2 innings allowing seven runs on nine hits. Only three of the runs were earned due to four Belhaven errors in the game.

The Lady Blazers will play Indiana Tech University at 11 AM and then meet up with Southern Oregon University again at 5 PM in day two of the tournament.