Box Score vs. Lee    Box  Score vs. Truett-McConnell
COLUMBUS, Ga.-The Belhaven softball team opened three days of action on Thursday at the Southern States Athletic Conference crossover tournament with a pair of wins. The Blazers, who are receiving votes in the latest NAIA Top 25 Poll, upset 16th ranked Lee University 4-3 followed by a 2-0 triumph over Truett-McConnell. Belhaven is scheduled to play seven games over the course of the three days.

Belhaven's first opponent of the day was Lee University and the Blazers started the game hot in the bottom of the first inning scoring three runs. Shortstop Courtney Fairley tripled to drive in center fielder Lizzy Hess and right fielder Joyce Smith. Fairley crossed the plate as well thanks to an error by Lee's left fielder Tabitha Farrow. Fairley's run gave the Blazers a 3-0 lead at the end of the first inning.

Lee University replied in the top of the third inning as Jenevieve Cena scored on a Jennifer Ringle single to right field and then Tabitha Farrow ran home on a throwing error by Smith. Dominique Hannah added a third run for the Flames with the help of Charlie Wooden, who singled to left field bringing the score to a 3-3 tie.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, Fairley closed the game by scoring the last run on ma Katie Sanders' bunt creating a 4-3 win for the Blazers.

Belhaven (20-10, SSAC 6-2) was led by Fairley with a pair of RBI's, two hits and two runs scored. Sanders followed Fairley with an RBI and two hits. In the circle, Jessica Paris improved her record to 8-3 this season, tossing the last 1.2 innings, allowing only one hit for the win. Bayleigh Babin pitched the first 5.1 innings for the Blazers and was charged with three runs on four hits.

Jennifer Ringle led the Flames (30-6, SSAC 9-1) going two for four at the dish, with two RBI's. Jessa Watts pitched the entire game for the Flames allowing three runs on four hits.

Game two of the day wasn't characterized by a lot of offense, but the Blazers picked up all the runs they needed scoring once in the first and once in the fourth en route to a 2-0 win. Third baseman Annalee Carr brought in Smith on an RBI groundout to the circle in the first after Smith had reached base with a leadoff single.

In the fourth, designated player Taylor Bryan cashed in right fielder Jessica Paris for the games second and final run. Paris tripled with two outs to center setting up Bryan for the RBI hit to left field. Starting pitcher Shelby Watson and Paris kept the Bears off balance at the plate combining for the shutout in the circle.

Belhaven had four hits with one each from Smith, Fairley, Paris, and Bryan. Carr had one RBI and Bryan the other. Watson pitched the first six innings and earned the win to go to 5-2, holding Truett-McConnell to five hits while striking out two. Paris claimed her first save of the season by firing a scoreless seventh frame.

Truett-McConnell was paced by left fielder Courtney Lyons who went two for three on the afternoon. Third baseman Chelsey Smith, catcher Dani Lyons, pinch hitter Haley Goodwin and pitcher Megan Fulcher had one hit apiece giving the Bears six for the game. Fulcher went six innings in the circle and was charged with both Blazer runs on four hits.

Belhaven will be back on the field Friday for day two of the SSAC crossover tournament in Columbus, GA. The Blazers will meet up with 8th ranked Brenau at 2:00 PM followed by a 4:00 PM showdown with Southern Wesleyan.