Box Score
Gulf Shores, AL-For the first time in program history, the Belhaven softball team is headed to the final four of the 2011 NAIA National Softball Championships thanks to a 7-3 victory over Oklahoma City Friday night in the Gulf Shores, AL. The Blazers went 2-1 on the day picking up a 5-2 win over William Carey while losing to Oregon Tech 4-2. Belhaven avoided elimination with the victory in game three over the Stars.

Belhaven (49-11) had to once again recover from an early deficit as they found themselves down 3-0 after a half inning of play. Brittany Caruthers put Oklahoma City (48-14) on top with a three run homer in and the Stars were off and rolling. However, the Blazers responded with three runs of their own in the bottom of the first to tie it up at 3-3. Christina Jaques ripped a leadoff double and Rian O'Bannon along with Annalee Carr drew walks to load the bases. CeCee Austin delivered a two run single and then Annalee Carr scored on a Stars error to account for the three runs in the inning.

Belhaven pitcher Sarah Burns would not allow a run the rest of the way and the Blazer bats came to life again in the sixth inning when they plated their other four runs. Burns had to work hard to keep the Stars off the board in the both the second and fourth innings when Oklahoma City started each inning with a leadoff double. On both occasions, Burns battled back to get the next three hitters thus stranding the runner at second base.

In the sixth, Katie Sanders put Belhaven in front with an RBI single and then Rian O'Bannon drew a bases loaded walk to make it a 5-3 game. Austin put the exclamation point on the game with a two run single up the middle and Burns made the 7-3 lead hold up by closing the door on Oklahoma City in the seventh.

Austin drove in four runs on two hits in the game followed by O'Bannon and Sanders who had a hit and an RBI each. Jaques was 2 for 3 at the plate with two runs scored and Hess continued to swing the bat well collecting two more hits in the game. Jaques is hitting .600 (12 for 20) in the tournament which is good for third best among all hitters in the championship. Burns improved to 35-8 in the circle with the win holding the Stars to three runs on five hits. She walked one and struck out five.

Caruthers led the way for Oklahoma City at the dish with three runs batted in on the home run in the first inning. Kylee Rounsaville had two hits in three plate appearances for the Stars in Monday night's game. Lily LaVelle (31-10) suffered the loss in relief allowing four runs on five hits in 4.2 innings. A.J. Woodward started and pitched 1.1 innings giving up three runs on four hits with two walks and one strikeout.

Belhaven will be back in action on Tuesday afternoon at 12:30 PM against fourth ranked Cal State University-San Marcos in another elimination game. The winner will move on and play a second game tomorrow night at 5:30 PM. Fans can follow all the play-by-play action through live audio by clicking here. Live stats can be viewed by clicking here.