Box Score Game 1    Box Score Game 2
JACKSON, Miss.-The Belhaven softball team split a Southern States Athletic Conference doubleheader against Spring Hill College Thursday afternoon at McLeod Field. The Blazers, who are receiving votes in the latest NAIA Top 25 Poll, won game one 13-5 in five innings, but dropped game two by the final of 5-2.

Game One
Spring Hill went in front in game one with a run in the top of the first inning on three hits. Left fielder Mariha Partman was the only one the Badgers needed as she started the game with a solo home run to right field. Belhaven came right back to take a lead it would never relinquish in the home half of the first on a three run home run off the bat of first baseman CeCee Austin to make it 3-1.

The Blazers added six more in the third thanks to a two run home run from third baseman Annalee Carr and a three run blast by second baseman Jordan Adams. DP Taylor Bryan scored the sixth run of the inning, running home from third when centerfielder Lizzy Hess got in a run down between first and second.

Spring Hill picked up two runs in the fourth and fifth innings to pull to within four runs at 9-5. In the fourth, Partman produced an RBI single and centerfielder Taylor Webre drove in the second run with a single to left. The Badgers had a pair of solo home runs in the fifth off the bats of catcher Jade Bourgeois and shortstop Shea Blanchard.

Belhaven put the run rule into effect in the bottom of the fifth scoring four times to end the game. Hess had an RBI single to start the scoring followed by Carr getting hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Austin had what proved to be the game winner, driving in two runs on a shallow single to left field.

Game one proved to be a slugfest as both teams combined to hit six home runs. Belhaven first baseman CeCee Austin had one round tripper and compiled five runs batted in to pace the Blazer offense. Third baseman Annalee Carr drilled a home run and drove in three followed by second baseman Jordan Adams who had a home run and three runs batted in. Designated player Taylor Bryan was 2 for 4 with a double and two runs scored and shortstop Courtney Fairley had two hits, including a double, and two runs scored. Centerfielder Lizzy Hess had one hit and an RBI while left fielder Joyce Smith and right fielder Jessica Paris ended game one with a hit each.

Shelby Watson earned the win in the circle as she improves to 6-2 on the season. Watson pitched four innings and allowed four runs on nine hits with one walk and one strikeout. Jessica Paris had one inning of work in game one and was charged with one run on one hit.

Spring Hill had two hits and a home run each from Mariha Partman, Jade Bourgeois, and Shea Blanchard. Partman ended the game with two runs batted in and Bourgeois along with Blanchard had an RBI apiece. Taylor Webre also collected two hits and a run batted in. Linsey Dickerson pitched 4.2 innings and was tagged with all 13 runs on 12 hits with six walks and one strikeout. Only eight of the 13 runs were earned.

Game Two
Belhaven had the lead early in game two thanks to an RBI double from Fairley in the bottom of the third inning. However, Spring Hill put up three runs in the top of the fourth to take the 3-1 edge. Elise deBruler started the frame with a solo home run and Blanchard blasted a two run shot to account for the scoring. The Badgers added solo runs in the fifth and sixth innings on a sac fly by Hinson and a sac bunt by first baseman Jenny Laird. Belhaven's only other run in game two crossed the plate in the bottom of the seventh on an RBI ground out by Austin.

Belhaven (22-13, 8-5 SSAC) was unable to match the offense of game one in game two as the Badgers limited the Blazers to just two runs. Fairly had three hits, including a double, and one run batted in. Adams went 2 for 3 at the plate and Bryan along with Hess had one base hit each. Austin drove in the other Belhaven run in game two. Starting pitcher Bayleigh Babin suffered the loss allowing three runs on five hits over the course of three innings. Babin walk one and struck out one as she falls to 8-6 on the season. Paris fired the final four innings and gave up two unearned runs on two hits.

Spring Hill (14-18, 4-6 SSAC) had a three hit game that included a home run for Elise deBruler. deBruler had one run batted in and two runs scored. Katelyn Hinson had two hits and an RBI and Blanchard finished the game with a home run and two runs batted in. Kathryn Ingles pitched a complete game to earn the win, limiting Belhaven to two runs on eight hits with three walks and one strikeout.

Belhaven will be back in action on Friday afternoon, hosting the University of Mobile in a doubleheader at McLeod Field starting at 1:30 PM.