Box Score
Columbus, GA-The Belhaven softball team opened the 2011 Southern States Athletic Conference tournament with a 12-3 win over Lee University Thursday afternoon at R.G. Jones Field in Columbus, GA. The Blazers, ranked 8th in the latest NAIA Top 25 Poll, pounded out 15 hits and took advantage of five Lee errors en route to the win.

The Blazers had 27 at bats and turned in nine RBIs with Christina Jacques leading the way with three. The Blazers got things started in the bottom of the first inning when Annalee Carr hit a single up the middle plating Christina Jaques for the first run of the afternoon. CeCee Austin scored the next run from a Rebecca Rousseau double to right center giving the Blazers a 2-0 advantage.

In the top of the second, Lee University posted their first run of the contest when Kelsey Barnes scored on a throwing error by Christina Jaques. The Blazers followed up Lee's runs with two of their own in the bottom of the second. Rian O'Bannon hit a double out to right field allowing Lizzy Hess and Kayla Maldonado to score extending the Blazers advantage to 4-1.

Lee University put up two more runs in the top of the third to pull back to within one at 4-3. Danielle Balough hit a single to right field brining in Kaitlyn Grosch for the score. Kelsey Barnes then hit a single to left field plating Ana Coscorrosa for the second run of the inning.

The Blazers countered with back to back four run innings to put the game away. In the bottom of the third, Rachel Wright singled to third base plating CeCee Austin and then Katie Sanders scored on a muffed throw by the catcher Nicole Rodriguez. Christina Jaques followed up with a double to right center field brining in Kayla Maldonado and Rachel Wright pushing Belhaven to an 8-3 advantage. In the bottom of the fourth, Rachel Wright doubled out to left center allowing CeCee Austin to score. Rachel Wright and pinch runner Emily Tucker both scored from a throwing error by Kaitlyn Grosch at short. Christina Jaques followed up with a single to left field plating Anna Matthews giving the Blazers a nine run lead at 12-3. In the top of the fifth, Lee failed to score which put the run rule into effect.

Belhaven (41-10) had a trio of players with three hits apiece to lead the way at the plate. Christina Jaques was 3 for 3 with a double and had three runs batted in. Rachel Wright was 3 for 3 with 2 RBI's and Rebecca Rousseau had three hits including two doubles and one run batted in. Rian O'Bannon contributed a hit and two runs batted in followed by Annalee Carr with a hit and one RBI. Kayla Maldonado and Lizzy Hess each finished the game with one hit.

Sarah Burns started in the circle and pitched all five innings allowing three runs on four hits. Burns improves to 27-7 on the season after striking out 11 Lee hitters on the afternoon.

Lee (26-15) was led by Danielle Balough and Kelsey Barnes who each posted two hits and an RBI. Brittany Balough suffered the loss working 3.2 innings allowing all 12 runs on 15 hits. Only six of the runs ended up being earned.

Belhaven will meet up with Shorter University in the second round on Friday morning at 11:00 AM. Shorter defeated Faulkner 8-0 in their opening round game setting up the showdown with Belhaven. The Hawks won the SSAC East Division and is now 40-11 on the season heading into Friday's game. Fans can follow all the action through live audio and stats by clicking here.