Box Score
COLUMBUS, Ga. – The Belhaven softball team advanced to the semifinals of the Southern States Athletic Conference Championships Friday night with a 3-1 win over the University of Mobile. The Blazers, ranked 12th in the latest NAIA Top 25 Poll, rebounded after a 3-2 loss to third ranked Lee University in the winner's bracket and kept their hopes alive for an SSAC title.

Runs have been hard to come by for Belhaven (34-11) during the first two days of the tournament and that trend continued in the early going against Mobile. The Blazers had trouble at the plate against Mobile's starting pitcher Kamaron Strickland failing to score through the first four innings.

Fortunately, Belhaven starter Jessica Paris matched Strickland with four shutout innings of her own to keep it a scoreless game. Paris also got some help from her defense when left fielder Dominique Corona threw out right fielder Ashley Middleton at home plate to end the top of the second inning. First baseman Jessica Palmer singled to left, but Corona made a perfect throw to the plate to nab Middleton and keep the Rams off the board.

Mobile (28-22) broke through for the game's first run in the top of the fifth on a two out double by DP Alexa Da Rosa. Palmer had singled to lead off the inning and moved into scoring position on a bunt by center fielder Sarah Stuart.

The Belhaven bats began to unthaw in the home half of the fifth when centerfielder Lizzy Hess led off the inning with a double to right center field. The Rams were playing in and Hess found the gap to help turn the tide of the game with her first double of the season. Hess then moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on a triple by right fielder Shelby Watson, tying the game at 1-1. Another wild pitch by Strickland allowed Watson to score giving the Blazers a 2-1 lead.

Ginger Lonergan replaced Paris in the circle to start the sixth and retired Mobile in order to keep the newly acquired momentum for Belhaven. With two outs in the bottom of the sixth, catcher Mandy Fuller belted a 3-0 pitch from Strickland over the fence in right center for her first home run of the season. The blast provided a much needed insurance run for the Blazers going into the top of the seventh with a 3-1 edge.

Lonergan gave up a leadoff single to second baseman Jessica Rogers in the seventh, but buckled down to retire the next three hitters. Palmer fouled out to third base, Stuart hit into a fielder's choice, and third baseman Brittany Dunson grounded out third to end the game.

Paris picked up the win and moved to 14-3 on the season in the circle. Paris allowed only one run on five hits with two walks and two strikeouts. Lonergan earned her first save of the 2013 season with a pair of scoreless innings.

Hess and first baseman Brittni Trawick each went 2 for 3 followed by Watson who was 1 for 3 with an RBI and a run scored. Fuller notched the home run in her only at bat and third baseman Denee' Crawford reached base three times on a hit, walk, and hit by pitch. As a team Belhaven outhit Mobile 7-6.

Strickland fell to 15-11 on the season with the loss in the circle for Mobile. Strickland pitched all six innings and surrendered three runs on seven hits with two walks and two strikeouts. Middleton and Palmer led the Rams at the plate with two hits apiece.

The Blazers will be back in action on Saturday morning when they battle Auburn University-Montgomery at 9:00 AM.