Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 SHAWNEE, Okla. – The Belhaven softball team punched its ticket to the finals in the Shawnee, Oklahoma Bracket of the 2014 NAIA National Championship Opening Round by defeating Bellevue University (Neb) for the second time in the tournament Tuesday evening. This time it took an extra inning walk-off RBI base hit by Emily Todd in the eighth to secure the 6-5 win. The Blazers did fall to host Saint Gregory's University earlier in the day so it will take two wins Wednesday to advance to the 2014 NAIA Softball World Series in Columbus, Ga.
 
(Box Score-HTML Saint Gregory's) (Box Score-HTML Bellevue)
Belhaven (42-16) struggled to find hits in the first game of the day against Saint Gregory's (50-9). Pitcher Sierra Gallego kept the Blazers in check to the tune of four hits over seven innings. Ginger Lonergan pitched well for Belhaven with the exception of a rocky fourth, when she allowed all five of the Cavaliers runs.
 
"We hit the ball hard right at people and couldn't catch a break," Belhaven Head Coach Kevin Griffin said. "Gallego did a good job of mixing it up and keeping us off balance."
 
Gallego ran her record to 18-5 in the circle thanks to Tuesday's win. She got run support from catcher Danielle Bacon who collected two hits with an RBI and a run scored. The Cavaliers also had RBI hits from Courtni Clark, Randy Yousey, and Whitney Anderson.
 
Lonergan suffered the loss, allowing five runs on seven hits with one walk and two strikeouts. Josie Porter, Shelby Watson, Dominique Corona, and Jessica Paris combined to deliver the four Belhaven hits.
 
The Blazers turned things around against Bellevue in the elimination game Tuesday night. Belhaven defeated the Bruins 16-1 to open the tournament on Monday, but Bellevue (36-17) would not go quietly on day two.
 
Belhaven broke through in the third with three runs to setup an early lead. Corona and Ashley Hitt each contributed RBI's in the inning to get things rolling. Corona bounced a single up the middle and Hitt was plunked by a pitch with the bases loaded to drive in another. An error by the Bruins opened the door for an additional run.
 
Bellevue got on the board in the fourth on an RBI single by Kristin Burhenne before the Blazers countered with two more in the bottom of the inning. Shelby Watson cashed in Porter on an RBI fielder's choice followed by another clutch RBI base hit off the bat of Corona.
 
Sensing that their season was in jeopardy of being over, the Bruins mounted a comeback with four unanswered runs, including the equalizer in the seventh. An RBI fielder's choice from Alyssa Matoba pushed the game into extra frames tied 5-5.
 
In the bottom of the eighth, Paris came through with a crucial leadoff double to left field to set the table for Belhaven. Porter moved Paris to third on a sacrifice bunt and then back to back intentional walks loaded the bases for Todd. Todd slammed a single to left rounding in Paris from third for the game winner.
 
"We lost a big lead once again, but I was proud of the way we gutted out the win," Griffin added. "Paris stretched a single into a double with a huge hustle play to get us going in the eighth and Emily came up with the clutch hit to keep our season alive."
 
Lonergan (18-7) bounced back in the circle for Belhaven to pick up the win in relief. She fired 3.1 innings allowing three runs on four hits. Corona, the reigning Southern States Athletic Conference Player of the Year, paced the offense with three more hits and two runs batted in. Watson, Todd and Hitt had the other Belhaven RBI's.
 
Kelli Fisher took the loss for Bellevue after allowing three runs on seven hits with two walks in five innings. Matoba and Augusta Ratliff had two hits each for the Bruins.
 
Tuesday's win sets up a rematch against Saint Gregory's in the championship game on Wednesday at 12:00 PM. Belhaven must win twice to win the title and if a second championship game is needed it will be played Wednesday as well.
 
"We wanted a chance to play tomorrow (Wednesday) so now we have that opportunity," Griffin said.
 
Fan cans follow all the action on the tournament webpage by clicking here.