GULF SHORES, Ala. – The Belhaven softball team opens the 2014 postseason against Brenau University (GA) in the first round of the Southern States Athletic Conference Championships Thursday afternoon in Gulf Shores, Alabama. The Blazers, ranked 15^th in the latest NAIA Top 25 Coaches' Poll, are the number three seed from the West Division while the Tigers represent the East Division as a second seed. Thursday's first pitch is slated for 4:00 PM.
 
Belhaven enters the tournament with a 38-13 record and finished in third place in the SSAC West Division. The Blazers own an impressive 20-10 record in conference play, battling game in and game out with some of the toughest teams in the country. The SSAC has seven teams ranked or receiving votes in the latest NAIA Top 25 Coaches' Poll.
 
Belhaven is led on offense by Dominique Corona who enters the tournament with a team best .462 batting average. Corona has four home runs, 13 doubles, and 29 runs driven in. Emily Todd paces the team in the RBI department with 36 while Denee' Crawford has crushed a team high six home runs.
 
The duo of Ginger Lonergan and Jessica Paris guide the Blazers in circle going into the tournament. Lonergan boasts a record of 14-5 with a 2.53 ERA while Jessica Paris owns a 12-3 record with a 2.70 ERA. Paris has struck out 104 opposing hitters and has held opposing offenses to a .199 batting average. Lonergan leads the team in innings pitched with 113.2 and has held opponents to 32 earned runs.
 
Brenau enters the tournament with a 31-11 overall record and is ranked 21^st in the latest top 25 poll. The Tigers finished second in the SSAC East Division with a record of 18-10 and thus earned the number two seed.
 
Brenua is led at the plate by Elizabeth Schneider who has collected 61 hits in 146 at bats this season. She is hitting .418 with 36 runs batted in. Katherine Cole is batting at a .395 clip with nine home runs and 41 RBI. Jenny Shepherd has been tough on opponents in the circle with a 1.67 ERA. She is 21-3 with 204 strikeouts in 151.0 innings pitched.
 
Both teams will be vying for one of two automatic bids to the NAIA National Championships given to the two SSAC title game participants. The Blazers are trying to punch their ticket to the national tournament for the second straight season.
 
For more information on the SSAC Championships fans can visit the conference website by clicking here. The tournament bracket can be viewed by clicking here.