Box Score
JACKSON, Miss.-The Belhaven softball team ran away with a 10-2 win at home Thursday afternoon against NCAA Division I Alcorn State University. The Blazers, ranked 6th in the NAIA Preseason Top 25 Poll, scored three in the first and tallied seven in the third to put the game away.

Belhaven got off to a good start scoring three runs to grab the early lead an momentum. Joyce Smith took advantage of catcher Chelsie Dahlbeck's throwing error to score the first run of the game. CeCee Austin then hit a single to left allowing Lizzy Hess to go home and then Austin scored the last run of the inning on when Courtney Fairley singled up the middle.
The Braves answered in the top of the second inning reducing the gap to 3-2. Barbara White hit a fly ball to right field giving time to Alexandria Harris to score the first run for Alcorn. Chelsie Dahlbeck then doubled to left field allowing Sylvia Archuleta to run home.

The Blazers put the game away in the bottom of the third inning scoring seven runs. Annalee Carr, Taylor Bryan, CeCee Austin, Kayla Maldonado, Shelby Watson, Joyce Smith ,and Lizzy Hess each scored a run. Katie Sanders earned picked up two runs batted in while Bryan, Smith, and Hess added one RBI apiece. The eight margin proved to be enough to end game in the fifth as the run rule was put into effect.

Belhaven (8-4) was led by right fielder Joyce Smith at the plate going 2 for 3 with two runs scored and one RBI. Catcher Katie Sanders had one hit and two runs batted in followed by center fielder Lizzy Hess, first baseman CeCee Austin, shortstop Courtney Fairley, and DP Taylor Bryan with a hit and RBI each. Jessica Paris pitched five innings and improved her record to 2-1 in the circle allowing just two runs on five hits. Paris struck out 10 batters and walked only two.

Chqueta Givens went 2 for 3 at the dish for Alcorn State (5-11) followed by Chelsie Dahlbeck with one hit and one run batted in. Barbara White had the other RBI for the Braves on a sacrifice fly. Tabitha Bonnell was charged with the loss surrendering 10 runs on nine hits in 2.2 innings of work in the circle.

Belhaven will be back in action on Saturday when the team travels to Faulkner University to open up Southern States Athletic Conference play. Saturday's doubleheader is slated to get underway at 4:00 PM.