Box Score Game 1    Box Score Game 2
JACKSON, Miss.-The Belhaven softball team split a Southern States Athletic Conference doubleheader with Faulkner on Tuesday afternoon at McLeod Field. The Blazers, who are receiving votes in the latest NAIA Top 25 Poll, lost game one in 10 innings 6-5, but responded with a 6-1 win in game two of the twin bill.

Game One
Faulkner took the lead in the top of the first on a sacrifice fly by first baseman Heather Smith. Belhaven answered in the bottom of the first when center fielder Lizzy Hess bunted her way aboard with one out. Hess moved to second on a fly out by shortstop Courtney Fairley then stole third and scored on a throwing error by catcher Tori Hollis.

The Eagles went back on top 2-1 in the second when right fielder Jessi Palmer ran home on a throwing error by pitcher Jessica Paris. The Blazers pulled even again in the third when DP Taylor Bryan stole home after Hess drew a throw from Hollis in the process of stealing second.

The seesaw battle continued in the fifth when shortstop Haley Monroe launched a two run home run to left center field to make it a 4-2 game. However, Belhaven came right back to equalize the score with two runs in the home half of the fifth. The Blazers took advantage of two errors as Bryan scored on a miscue by Smith at first and Hess charged home on Hollis's second wild throw of the game.

Neither team plated a run until the 10th when Faulkner climbed back in front with two runs. Hyde scored from a throwing error by Paris and later in the inning Hollis plated Munroe on a fielder's choice. Bryan opened the bottom of the 10th by driving in right fielder Joyce Smith on a single to center, but the comeback bid fell short when Fairley lined into a double play at third base to end the game.

Belhaven (21-12, 7-4 SSAC) was led by center fielder Hess and Bryan who had three hits each in game one of the doubleheader. Bryan also had the only RBI of the contest for the Blazers while both Hess and Bryan scored a pair of runs. First baseman CeCee Austin had the only other hit for Blazers going 1 for 4 in the game. Paris started and took the loss in the circle, allowing six runs on five hits with five walks and five strikeouts. Only three of the runs charged to Paris were earned as she drops to 8-5 on the season.

Shortstop Haley Munroe guided the Eagles with a two hit game that included a two run home run. Munroe had two RBI's and a pair of runs scored. DP Keri Hyde had a hit and three runs scored while Smith and Hollis had runs batted in. Missy Duke pitched all 10 innings for Faulkner (10-13, 5-6 SSAC) en route to the win. Duke allowed five runs (three unearned) on seven hits with four walks and four strikeouts.

Game Two
Belhaven bounced back quickly in game two plating three runs in the bottom of the first. Bryan recorded a run on a throwing error by catcher Erin Byrd followed by RBI's singles off the bats of Austin and Paris.

Faulkner scored its only run of the game in the fifth on an RBI single by Munroe. The Blazers put the game away in the bottom of the fifth matching their three run first with three more tallies. Catcher Chelsea Randle drove in Fairley on an RBI single to center, second baseman Jordan Adams cashed in third baseman Annalee Carr with a single to left, and Smith rounded in Austin for the third run of the inning. The Blazers scored all three runs after two outs and an error by Munroe gave a much needed extra out to work with.

Belhaven pounded out 11 hits that powered the Blazers to the 6-1 win. Fairley and Carr each had two hits and two runs scored. Adams also collected two hits and a run batted in followed by Austin, Paris, Smith, and Randle with a hit and an RBI apiece. Pitcher Bayleigh Babin turned in a complete game, allowing just one unearned run on five hits over the course of seven innings. The win boosted Babin's record to 8-5 in 2012.

Munroe paced the Faulkner offense in game two as well, recording two more hits and a run batted in. Byrd, right fielder Abbie Pierce, and center fielder Rachel Reiswig were responsible for the Eagles other three hits in the game. Mattie Dotson fired all six innings in the circle for Faulkner in game two, allowing six runs on 11 hits with two walks and three strikeouts.

Tuesday's doubleheader split gave Belhaven three out of four wins in the season series against Faulkner. The Blazers swept a doubleheader at Faulkner on March 21st. Belhaven will be on McLeod field again Thursday afternoon, hosting Spring Hill College in another SSAC twin bill starting at 1:00 PM.