JACKSON, Miss. – The No. 11 Belhaven Blazers Softball team split its conference-opening doubleheader with No. 2 William Carey Friday afternoon, winning the second game in walk-off fashion.
Belhaven (5-3, 1-1 SSAC) never led in the opening game, as William Carey (5-3, 1-1 SSAC) scored a run in the top of the first. The Blazers tied it up in the bottom half of the inning with an
Emily Todd single that scored
Dani Craft.
The Crusaders then responded with a three-run second inning that was all fueled by Blazers' errors with two outs.
Haley Yasses got two runs back via a home run to right center, but that was as close as the Blazers would get.
After the teams each added a run in the third, Carey, broke open the game in the fourth with a seven run inning that included seven hits a walk.
Belhaven finished with just three hits in the first game to go along with three walks.
Julienne Broussard picked up the loss after giving up 11 runs, eight earned, on seven hits and four walks.
Sarah Beth Harbour pitched the other two innings for Belhaven, giving up two runs, one earned, on four hits and a walk.
Game two proved much different for the Blazers. After giving up another run in the top of the first, Belhaven answered with a five run inning in the bottom half, which was capped off by a
Carly Yasses grand slam to put the Green and Gold up 5-1.
William Carey responded with three runs in the top of the second and then added three more unearned runs in the fourth inning to take a 7-6 lead.
Ashlee Hitt picked up her third RBI of the game with a double in the bottom of the fourth to tie the game at seven.
Jordan Herring held the Crusaders scoreless in the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings, setting the Blazers up for a walk-off opportunity in the bottom of the seventh.
Todd led off the inning and Belhaven didn't need anyone else as Todd crushed her first homerun of the season to left field, giving the Blazers an 8-7 win.
Herring picked up her third win of the year, pitching a complete game, allowing seven runs, four earned, on eight hits and four walks.
Belhaven will return to action on Wednesday, hosting Centenary College in a make up doubleheader that was originally scheduled for this week.
