Box Score
Jackson, MS-The Belhaven softball team opened up play in the Belhaven Bash Friday morning with a win over Lindenwood University 5-3. The Lady Blazers are now 4-1 to begin the season. Friday's game was the season opener for the Lady Lions. The first game of the tournament was originally scheduled for 4 PM, but with rain expected for later in the day the start time was pushed up to 9 AM.

 

Belhaven starting pitcher Ashley Mottola set Lindenwood down in order in the top of the first and recorded two strikeouts in the opening frame. The Lady Blazers scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the first as Britney Webb doubled to left center and then scored on a single by Heather Pace.

 

After holding the Lady Lions scoreless in the top of the second, Belhaven struck again for a run in their half of the inning. Chelsea Randle hit a two out single up the middle and came around to score on a double off the left field fence by Britney Webb. With two innings in the books, Belhaven held a 2-0 advantage over Lindenwood.

 

Belhaven's big inning came in the third, scoring three times to take a 5-0 lead. Mallory Meadows got the offense going by spraying a one out single to left center followed by a single through the left side of the infield by Tiffany Ansley. Salina Cervantes then stepped to the plate and blasted her second home run of the year over the right center field fence.

 

Lindenwood battled back in the top of the fourth on a two run homer by Jessica Long to cut the Lady Blazers lead to 5-2. The Lady Lions got their final run of the game in the sixth on a two out single by Chelsea Landeck. Mottola ended up working out of the jam by striking out Miranda Schlosser with the tying run standing on second base. Mottola then came back to set the Lady Lions down in order in the seventh in route to the complete game victory.

 

Mottola gave up three runs and seven hits in her seven innings of work. She came up with six strikeouts including two in the sixth inning to run her record to 2-0 on the season. Offensively, Belhaven was led by Webb, Meadows, and Randle who each had two hits a piece. Cervantes had the three run homer which proved to be the winning hit for Belhaven and accounted for 3 of the 5 Lady Blazer runs.

 

Jessica Long went 3 for 3 in the game for the Lady Lions with two RBI's. Katy Wine took the loss for Lindenwood, going 2.1 innings allowing five runs on eight hits.

 

Belhaven was scheduled to play a second game on Friday morning with Mid-Continent, but the rains came and forced the contest to be cancelled. The Lady Blazers are scheduled to play four games on Saturday beginning at 10 AM against Central Methodist University. The complete tournament schedule can be viewed by clicking on the link below.