Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 HATTIESBURG, Miss. – The Belhaven softball team split a Southern States Athletic Conference doubleheader with sixth-ranked William Carey University on Wednesday, taking the opener 9-3 before falling in the nightcap 4-0. The Blazers moved to 30-9 on the season, including a 12-6 mark in the SSAC, while the Crusaders now stand at 29-3 overall and 12-2 in league play.
 
(Box Score-HTML Game 1) (Box Score-HTML Game 2)
Belhaven's offense erupted for nine runs and 14 base hits in the first game, with Emily Todd's 4-4 day highlighting the effort. Todd also drove in three runs on a sixth-inning home run to left center.
 
The Blazers shared the wealth, as Josie Porter, Dominique Corona, and Ashlee Hitt each contributed a multi-hit game. Corona drove in a pair, while four other Belhaven hitters found a hit against the Crusaders.
 
Senior Jessica Paris (9-2) went all seven innings in the pitching circle, allowing three unearned runs on six Crusader hits while walking two and striking out two. William Carey counterpart Brittany LeBlanc (15-2) was hit with the loss after allowing all nine runs on 14 hits and a pair of walks.
 
Relanda McFarland and Lauren Little gave the Crusaders four of the team's six hits in Game One, but the two teams seemingly swapped roles for the second game of the evening. Jasmine Shelby produced three base hits and drove in a pair, while McFarland and Sarah Beckman each laced two hits of their own.
 
Three other Crusaders contributed to the effort with base hits, while Lindsey Rowe drove in two runs. Emily Todd again highlighted the Belhaven offense, but she was the only Blazer with more than one hit in the nightcap.
 
Porter, Corona, Hitt, and Mandy Fuller each found a base hit, but the Blazers were unable to muster a run against William Carey starter Brittany Lang. Despite striking out just two, Lang (14-1) managed to keep the Blazers off the scoreboard for just the third time this year.
 
Belhaven's Ginger Lonegan (12-3) surrendered four runs on nine hits while walking three and fanning two through 5.1 innings. Jessica Paris recorded the final two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning, and the Crusaders managed to salvage a split with their Western Division rivals.
 
Belhaven is set to return to action on Friday, when they play host to Brewton Parker College at McLeod Field. First pitch of the doubleheader is slated for 1:00 PM.