Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 JACKSON, Miss. – The Belhaven softball team opened the 2014 Southern States Athletic Conference schedule Monday afternoon at McLeod Field with a doubleheader sweep against Bethel University (TN). The Blazers, ranked 9th in the NAIA Top 25 Coaches' Poll, took game one 8-0 and followed that up with a 9-0 victory in game two.

(Box Score-Game 1) (Box Score-Game 2)
"It's great to get off to a good start in conference play with two wins," Belhaven Head Coach Kevin Griffin said. "We played a great preconference schedule and I really think it will prepare us for the tough competition that we will have in the SSAC this year. We just need to build on today's momentum and play well again tomorrow."

Game One
Belhaven (18-3, 2-0 SSAC) powered ahead early in game one with five runs in the bottom of the second inning. Senior Shelby ripped a two run double to left center followed by junior Emily Todd's three run double that cleared the bases. Belhaven did all its damage after two batters were out in the inning. Junior Dominique Corona started the rally with a double to right field.

The Blazers tacked on two more runs in the third on an RBI ground ball by junior Josie Porter followed by a steal of home from freshman Kelly Rogers. Belhaven ended the game in the bottom of the sixth when senior Katy Adair hit a bases loaded single to left field, chasing home Porter from third base.

Adair got the start in the circle and tossed all six innings for her fifth win of the season. Adair blanked Bethel (4-10, 1-3 SSAC) on three hits with three walks and one strikeout. At the plate, Adair went 2 for 3 with an RBI and a run scored while Todd collected one hit and three runs batted in. Watson drove in two on the double and Porter scored twice and notched one RBI.

"Katy gave us a great game again today, both offensively and defensively," Griffin said. "She is clicking on all cylinders at the plate and I really believe that her hot bat is helping her pitching confidence as well."

The Wildcats were held to three hits with Summer Winters, Brooklyn Jenkins, and Shelby Evans each picking up one. Ericca McCormic gave up six of the eight runs on four hits and five walks and was tagged with the loss.

Game Two
The Blazers picked up right where they left off and scored at least one run in each of their four at bats in the second game. Belhaven broke the ice in the bottom of the first on an RBI single from Todd and made it a 2-0 game in the second on a double to left off the bat of Porter.

The Blazers pulled away in the third with six runs on the strength of four hits. Adair got things rolling with an RBI double to right center and then an RBI ground out off the bat of junior Ashley Hitt extended the advantage to 4-0. Corona wrapped an RBI single to left and Porter delivered the knock out on a three run home run to center field. It was Porter's third round tripper of the season and boosted her RBI total to 17 this season. Leading 8-0, the Blazers tacked on their final tally of the game in the fourth on an RBI ground out by senior Emily Tucker.

Porter went 2 for 3 in the scorebook with four runs batted in and a run scored to lead the Belhaven offense in game two. Adair had another solid game at the plate, going 3 for 3 with two runs scored and an RBI. Todd, Tucker, Hitt and Corona also chipped in an RBI each.

Senior Ginger Lonergan (8-0) got the start and ended up working three innings for her eighth win of the season. Lonergan permitted one hit, issued one walk, and struck out three. Senior Jessica Paris closed things out by shutting out the Wildcats in the final two innings.

"Josie came up with a big home run for us with runners on base in one of her best at-bats of the year," Griffin said. "In the circle, Ginger gave us another solid start and has strung together a good little streak of pitching performances to start the season. Jessica came in and gave us two strong innings as well."

Kayla Guthrie and Heather Capps had the only two hits for Bethel in game two. Kathryn Kreuziger took the loss for the Wildcats in the circle, allowing eight runs on nine hits in 2.2 innings.

Belhaven will be back in action on Tuesday afternoon at McLeod Field when the team hosts Blue Mountain College in another SSAC doubleheader starting at 1:00 PM.