Box Score Game 1    Box Score Game 2
MONTGOMERY, Ala.-The Belhaven softball team swept a key Southern States Athletic Conference doubleheader on Wednesday at Faulkner University. The Blazers, who are receiving votes in the latest NAIA Top 25 Poll, edged the Eagles in extra innings in game one 4-3 followed by a 2-1 victory in the second game.

Game One
It took Belhaven (17-10, 4-2 SSAC) four innings to scored in the first game, but starting pitcher Jessica Paris stepped up big in the fifth launching her second home run of the season over the left center field fence to make it a 2-0 game. The Blazers tacked on a run in the sixth when shortstop Courtney Fairley singled to left and on the play Erin Byrd misplayed the ball permitting first baseman CeCee Austin to cross the plate.

Trailing 3-0, Faulkner (6-10, 1-3 SSAC) rallied for three runs to tie the game and send the contest into extra frames. Catcher Tori Hollis drove an RBI double to right center followed by a Cassie Gable run scoring double to right center cutting the Blazer lead to 3-2. Gable eventually scored to knot the game at 3-3 on a wild pitch by Paris.

Paris would step up big again in the ninth driving a clutch one out single down the left field line that plated pinch runner Anna Mathews. Catcher Katie Sanders setup the inning with a leadoff single to center and Jordan Adams moved Matthews to second with a sac bunt. Paris came back out to the circle for the ninth and worked around a walk to retire the side and end the game.

Paris was 2 for 4 at the plate with three RBI's and also pitched a complete game, logging nine innings for the win. Paris gave up three runs on six hits with three walks and two strikeouts running her record to 6-3. Right fielder Joyce Smith and Sanders each had two hits followed by Lizzy Hess, Annalee Carr, Austin, and Courtney Fairley with one hit apiece.

Faulkner was paced by Cassie Gable who went 3 for 3 with one RBI and a run scored. Heather Smith, Missy Duke, and Tori Hollis had one hit. Duke (5-3) took the loss allowing four runs on 10 hits with two walks and five strikeouts.

Game Two
Game two played out as a pitchers dual and Belhaven had just enough offense to pull out the win. The Blazers jumped in front with a run in the first inning when Austin singled to right field and Abbie Pierce committed an error giving Hess the green light to score. Hess legged out an infield single with one out to setup up the run.

Belhaven added its second run in the fifth when Shelby Watson walked to start the inning and scored on a sacrifice fly by Austin to make it 2-0. The Eagles came back with a run in the home half of the fifth thanks to a Gable RBI double that made it a 2-1 game. Faulkner threatened to tie the game in sixth putting runners on first and second with no one out, but relief pitcher Shelby Watson worked out of the jam and ended up closing the game for her first save of the year.

Hess had a big afternoon at the plate in game two, collecting three hits in four plate appearances. Austin had one hit and an RBI followed by Smith, Ashley Hitt, and Chelsea Randle with one hit apiece. Bayleigh Babin (7-5) pitched five innings for her seventh win of the season, allowing one run on five hits with three walks and four strikeouts. Babin pitched well with runners on base and held the Eagles off the board in the first inning after runners reached second and third with no one out. Babin and Watson combined to force Faulkner to strand 11 runners in the game. Watson ended the day with two innings of relief work in which she struck out one and gave up two hits.

Faulkner had seven total hits in the game with seven different players getting one apiece. Gable had the only run batted in on the double in the fifth. Keri Hyde, Haley Munroe, Heather Smith, Hollis, Rachel Reiswig, and Byrd had the other hits. Mattie Dotson suffered the loss dropping her record to 1-7 this season. Dotson was charged with two unearned runs on seven hits with two walks and two strikeouts.

Belhaven was scheduled to play on Thursday afternoon at McLeod Field against Judson College, but the doubleheader has been postponed due to rain. The Blazers will be back in action on Tuesday at NCAA Division I Alcorn State University beginning at 4:00 PM.