Box Score GULF SHORES, Ala. – The Belhaven softball team kicked off the 2014 Southern States Athletic Conference Tournament with a thrilling 4-3 come from behind victory against Brenau University (GA) Thursday evening at the Gulf Shores Sportsplex. The third seed Blazers scored three times in the top of the seventh and then shutdown the second seed Golden Tigers in the bottom of the frame to secure the win.
 
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"I was proud of the girls for battling back and handling the adversity," Belhaven Head Coach Kevin Griffin said. "They have pulled themselves off the mat just like that many times this season."
 
The statistical numbers from both pitching staffs coming into the postseason meant the potential was high for a low scoring game and that's how it played out. Belhaven's (39-13) team ERA was 2.08 while Brenau's (33-12) staff boasted an earned run average of 2.52.
 
The Blazers were the first to strike, plating a run in the top of the second inning. Denee' Crawford singled to right center field and then pinch runner Stacey Luciani eventually made it to third after a stolen base and single from Katy Adair. With two outs, an errant throw by shortstop Madison Strickland on a ball hit by Jessica Paris allowed Luciani to score.
 
Belhaven held a 1-0 advantage until the bottom of the fifth when the Golden Tigers plated all three of their runs. Paris, who opened game in the circle, kept the Brenau bats at bay until running into trouble. Andrea Bentley led off the inning with a solo home run and then a walk and two defensive miscues led to a pair of additional runs. Ginger Lonergan came out of the bullpen and limited the damage to three runs, keeping the Blazers within striking distance.
 
Meanwhile, Brenau starting pitcher Jenny Shepherd retired 13 batters in a row dating back to the second inning before Belhaven broke through against her in the seventh. Crawford led off the inning with a walk and then with one out Adair found the gap in left center for a double to put runners at second and third. Victoria Sorrell then delivered a pinch hit single to short cashing in Crawford from third, cutting the deficit to 3-2.
 
Two batters later with the bases loaded, Shelby Watson came through with what would be the game winning hit with two outs. After spoiling a number of pitches and working the count full, Watson snuck a ground ball through the hole at short sending in Adair and Sorrell for the game winning runs. Lonergan proceeded to retire the Golden Tigers in order in the bottom of the seventh for the win.
 
"You expect seniors to step up in key situations and both Katy Adair and Shelby Watson did that for us in the seventh inning to spark the comeback," Griffin added. "We showed a lot of discipline at the plate and didn't swing at pitches out of the zone like we had done earlier in the game."
 
Lonergan (15-5) earned the win in relief, shutting out Brenau over the final three frames. Lonergan surrendered just one hit, did not walk a batter and struck out six. Paris pitched well over four innings, but was charged with three runs although only one was earned.
 
At the plate, Adair led the charge for Belhaven with two hits in three at bats. Crawford, Watson, and Sorrell each picked up a base hit with Watson collecting two runs batted in. Sorrell was credited with the other RBI for the Blazers. As a team, Belhaven held a slight 5-4 edge in total hits.
 
Shepherd (21-4) went the distance for Brenau and suffered her fourth loss of the season. Shepherd permitted four runs on five hits with four walks and six strikeouts in seven innings. Bentley paced the Tigers with the solo home run and had the only RBI of the night. Allison Gunn finished the game 1 for 3 with one run scored.
 
Belhaven advances to the second round and will face Spring Hill College Friday afternoon at 2:00 PM. Fans can followed the action through live stats and live audio at blazers.belhaven.edu.