Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 GULF SHORES, Ala.- The Belhaven softball team earned two victories on day one of the Gulf Shores Invitational Friday afternoon. The 9th ranked Blazers outslugged William Penn 11-9 in the first game of the day and cruised past Thomas University 7-1 in game two.

Game One
Belhaven (14-2) fell behind early against William Penn 5-2 after the first two innings of play. From the outset the game had the makings of a high scoring contest and that proved to be the case. The Blazers rallied for five runs in the fourth to turn the tide of the game. Jessica Paris delivered a three run homer and Ashley Hitt chased home two more with a double to right center.

(Box Score Game 1) (Box Score Game 2)
William Penn made things interesting with four runs in the seventh, but Belhaven held on for the win. Two key insurance runs in the top of the seventh on a Carly Yasses double and sacrifice fly by Shelby Watson proved to be huge.

Belhaven was led by Paris at the plate who had a 2 for 3 performance with four runs batted in and two runs scored. Hitt drove in three on two hits followed by Emily Todd with two hits and one run batted in. Ginger Lonergan battled her way to her sixth win of the season in relief. Longeran pitched 6.1 innings, allowing seven runs on 10 hits with two walks and two strikeouts.

"Ginger gave us another good outing in relief," Belhaven Head Coach Kevin Griffin said. "Katy Adair is still battling an injury and couldn't get out of the first inning so Ginger got us out of a jam. Several girls are seeing the ball really well right now and Paris had a big home run in a crucial point of the game. Emily Todd and Ashlee Hitt continue to hit well in RBI situations."

William Penn was led by Brittanee Grove with two hits and three runs batted in followed by Jorden Steele, who produced two hits and two RBI. Grove also tossed a complete game for the Statesmen in the circle. She gave up all 11 runs on 12 hits with three walks and three strikeouts.

Game Two
Although it took some time for the Blazers to get going in the second game against Thomas University, the Night Hawks were unable to slow them down once they hit their stride.

Belhaven got on the board in the fourth on an RBI single from Katy Adair and then pounded out six runs in the sixth inning to take control of the game. Watson brought in the first two runs on a single to left center followed by a walk and hit batsmen with the bases loaded accounting for two more. A ground out by Adair and an error by Thomas permitted the additional two tallies.

Dominique Corona had two hits, an RBI and run scored to guide the Belhaven bats. Adair recorded a hit and two RBI along with Watson while Hitt was 1 for 1 with an additional run batted in. Paris not only contributed at the plate, but was lights out in the circle as well. Paris pitched her way to her fourth win in 2014 by giving up just one run on two hits with two walks and four strikeouts.

"Dominique Corona has been a tough out lately offensively," Griffin added. "Her approach at the plate is very confident and it is rubbing off on the rest of our lineup."

Summer Rose took the loss for Thomas University, surrendering five runs on seven hits with nine walks and five strikeouts. Ashley Sikes had one of the two Night Hawk hits and the only RBI of the afternoon. Alex VanWagner chipped in with the games other base hit.

Belhaven will wrap up the Gulf Shores Invitational on Saturday with three more games. The Blazers will battle Missouri Baptist at 11:00 AM, Columbia College (MO) at 1:00 PM, and Southeastern University at 5:00 PM.