Box Score vs. Southern Nazarene    Box Score vs. Indiana-Southeast
Hattiesburg, MS-The Belhaven softball team opened the 2011 season on Friday afternoon falling to Southern Nazarene University in game one of the day 5-4 followed by a convincing 8-0 win against Indiana University-Southeast. The Blazers, ranked 12th in the NAIA Preseason Top 25 Poll, pounded out 16 hits combined in the two games and smashed three home runs.

Belhaven vs. Southern Nazarene
Belhaven (1-1) met up with Southern Nazarene University in the first game of the day and promptly put up two runs in the top of the first inning. The Blazers loaded the bases and with two outs Annalee Carr walked to bring home the first run as Christina Jaques crossed the plate to give Belhaven a 1-0 edge. Katie Sanders followed the walk with an infield single off pitcher Jordan Simmons to chase home CeCee Austin.

Southern Nazarene (1-0) then bounced back with three runs in the bottom of the frame to grab the lead. Katie Hale produced a run scoring double and Amy Madden wrapped a two run double down the left field line pushing the Crimson Storm out front 3-2. The score stayed 3-2 until the fifth inning when Belhaven jumped back out in front 4-3 on a home run by Rachel Wright. Austin began the inning with a double and then Rebecca Rousseau, who had reached on a fielder's choice, came home on the Wright blast.

Unfortunately, the lead would be short lived as Southern Nazarene tied the game at 4-4 in their half of the fifth. Daphne Stewart sent a shot off the wall in left resulting in a double that plated Kristina Forest. In the bottom of the sixth, the Crimson Storm took home the victory with an unearned run off Sarah Burns. The inning started with a couple of costly Blazer errors that opened the door for the run. Madden reached on a throwing error by Christina Jaques and a second error by Wright put runners on first and second. Jordan Jones would eventually come in for the game winner on a fielder's choice as she alertly headed home after a play at the plate and a throw that was off target to first base.

Jaques led the Belhaven offense in the first game going 2 for 4 at the plate with a run scored and two stolen bases. Wright had two hits including the home run and two runs batted in. Carr and Sanders also collected a hit and an RBI each. Burns pitched 5.1 innings and suffered the loss in the circle. Burns surrendered five runs with four being earned on seven hits while walking two and striking out eight.

Stewart led the way for Southern Nazarene University with three hits including two doubles, an RBI, and a run scored. Madden had one hit and two runs batted in for the Crimson Storm. Simmons pitched all six innings allowing all four Belhaven runs on seven hits. She worked around four walks and struck out three opposing hitters.

Belhaven vs. Indiana University-Southeast
Belhaven exploded out of the gate in game two against Indiana University-Southeast with three runs in each of the first two innings. The big shot in the first inning was a three run home run off the bat of Austin to get the Blazers rolling. In the second inning, Jaques lifted a two run home run over the right field wall sending home Lizzy Hess who reached base on a one out single. Rian O'Bannon then drew a walk, advanced on a wild pitch, and came home on Carr's double to the gap in right center making it a 6-0 game.

In the fifth, Belhaven put the run rule into effect with two more tallies on the scoreboard. Austin drove in another run on a double to left field and Sanders shot a single through the right side of the infield for her second RBI of the day. Ashley Mottola came in to pitch and closed out the game in the bottom of the fifth to preserve the win.

Austin had a big afternoon at the plate in game two going 2 for 3 with four RBI's on a home run and double. Jaques had another hit and two runs batted in thanks to her first round tripper of the season. Carr had two hits, two runs scored, and an RBI followed by Sanders with one hit and one run batted in. Rebecca Rousseau pitched four innings and recorded the win allowing only one hit while striking out five Indiana-Southeast batters. Mottola worked a scoreless fifth in her first appearance of the season. Belhaven collected nine hits against the Grenadiers and committed just one error.

Indiana University-Southeast (0-1) had only one hit and that was a single from catcher Hanna Bettag. Kayla Duke was charged with the loss as she pitched 1.1 innings and surrendered five of the eight runs on four hits. Amber Eckstein tossed the final 3.2 innings and was tagged for three runs on five hits. She walked one and struck out five in the relief outing.

“I was proud we put ourselves in a position to win both games even though we split,” said Head Coach Kevin Griffin. “I was pleased that we hit the ball well all day long without having seen much live pitching due to limited practice time because of the weather. I was very anxious to see our team play in game situations and I feel good about our season after the way we performed today. It's good to have the first collegiate win under my belt”, adds Griffin who coached his first games as Belhaven's head coach.

Belhaven will be back in action on Saturday when they host three games at Freedom Ridge Park. The Blazers will open the day against Lindenwood University at 12:00 PM followed by William Penn University at 2:00 PM, and Savannah College of Art and Design at 6:00 PM.