Box Score
Gulf Shores, AL-The Belhaven softball team defeated Minot State University (ND) 5-3 this afternoon in game two of pool play at the NAIA National Championships in Gulf Shores, AL. The Blazers, one of eight number one seeds, rallied from a 3-1 deficit scoring four unanswered runs to pull out the win.

Belhaven (46-10) took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first on Christina Jaques ninth home run of the season only to see Minot State score three times in the top of the third to take a 3-1 edge. The Beavers got back to back two out doubles by Kyla Thiesen and Jen Dixon followed by a Deanna Mitchell two run home run which accounted for the three scores.

The Blazers then scored single runs in the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth innings to eventually regain the advantage. Rebecca Rousseau drove in a run in the third inning on a one out single to left field cutting the deficit to 3-2. The Blazers tied the game in the fourth on a Jaques run scoring base hit and in the fifth Belhaven tallied what would be the game winning hit on a two out RBI single off the bat of Rachel Wright. In the sixth, the Blazers added an insurance run when Jaques walked with two outs, stole second and third, and came home on a Rian O'Bannon single to left field.

Minot State (30-11) threatened in the top of the seventh inning putting runners at second and third with only one out. However, Belhaven pitcher Sarah Burns struck out Leah Matthewson and Thiesen to end the game and preserve the victory.

Jaques had a big day at the plate for Belhaven going 3 for 3 with a home run and two runs batted in. Jaques also had two stolen bases to set up another Blazer run in the sixth inning. O'Bannon went 2 for 3 with an RBI and Katie Sanders also had a multi hit game going 2 for 3 at the dish. Wright and Rousseau each had one hit and one run batted in. Burns (32-7) earned the win in the circle by tossing another complete game. Burns allowed three runs on six hits, walked only one and struck out 10. In two games at the national tournament, Burns has recorded 18 strikeouts.

Minot State (30-11) was paced by Thiesen who had two hits in four plate appearances. Mitchell went 1 for 2 with two runs batted in on a home run in the third inning. Dixon had a hit and was credited with the other Minot State RBI. Many Greenberg was tagged with the loss in the circle allowing five runs on 10 hits in six innings of work. The loss drops her season record to 17-7 in 2011.

Belhaven will be back on the field Friday afternoon as they play their third and final pool play game against Lindsey Wilson College at 3:00 PM. A win by the Blazers puts them into the elite eight and into the bracket portion of the championships beginning on Monday. Fans can follow all the action through live stats by clicking here.