Box Score
Gulf Shores, AL-The Belhaven softball team moved one step closer to the NAIA National Championship game thanks to a 1-0 victory over California State University-San Marcos Tuesday afternoon in Gulf Shores, AL. the Blazers will now meet top ranked California Baptist University Tuesday night at 5:30 PM with the winner punching their ticket to the championship game against Oregon Tech University on Wednesday. Oregon Tech topped Cal Baptist 1-0 Tuesday afternoon to push the Lancers into the loser's bracket.

Belhaven (50-11) scored their only run of the afternoon in the bottom of the second on an RBI base hit by Lizzy Hess. Rachel Wright scored the run after walking with one out and a key error by Cal State-San Marcos gave the Blazers the extra out they needed to plate the run. With two outs, Katie Sanders hit what looked to be an inning ending ground ball to short, but first baseman Alyssa Dronenburg dropped the throw extending the inning for Hess.

The Cougars threatened at various points during the game, but Belhaven's defense turned three double plays behind pitcher Sarah Burns to help keep Cal State-San Marcos (45-11) off the board. The double plays came in the second, fourth, and sixth innings ending the Cougars scoring chances in the each frame. Burns earned the win and is now 6-1 in the national tournament while improving to 36-8 overall. Burns gave up six hits, walked three and struck out four including back to back hitters to end the fifth with runners on second and third.

Belhaven had just enough offense to pull through with the victory. Rian O'Bannon, Annalee Carr, and Hess each had one hit accounting for all of the Blazer hits in today's game. Derrisha Lacey, Dronenburg, Theresa Houle, Heavin-Lee Rodriguez, Shanti Poston, and Kaitlin McGinley each had a hit for the Cougars. Brenna Sandberg (41-10) suffered a tough loss for Cal State-San Marcos allowing just the one unearned run with two walks and two strikeouts.

Belhaven will now battle California Baptist Tuesday night at 5:30 PM with a chance to go to the championship game on Wednesday afternoon. Fans can follow all the live play-by-play action through live audio by clicking here. Live stats can be accessed by clicking here.