GULF SHORES, Ala. – The Belhaven Blazers Softball team suffered a pair of heartbreaking extra-inning setbacks Saturday evening on day two of the Gulf Coast Invitational. The Blazers fell to USC-Beaufort 3-2 in eight innings before losing to Campbellsville 7-6 in nine innings.
In game one, the Blazers fell behind to the Sand Sharks in the second inning after an error prolonged the inning and a two-RBI single put the Blazers behind.
In took the Blazers five innings to respond, but Belhaven did by way of a huge two-run homerun off the bat of
Emily Todd.
In the sixth inning,
Ashlee Hitt reached base with a two-out single. Todd capitalized on the extended inning and tied the game at 2 with the homerun that easily cleared the left field.
After a scoreless seventh inning, the game went to an international tiebreaker in the eighth. USC-Beaufort capitalized on an error and took a 3-2 lead.
In the bottom half of the inning, the Blazers were picked off on a double play to end the game and strand the runner in scoring position.
Despite not giving up an earned run in the game,
Jordan Herring was dealt the loss after scattering seven hits over eight innings.
In game two, Belhaven was again behind early after a three-run inning by Campbellsville in the third inning.
Hitt answered back and cut the deficit to one in the top of the sixth inning with a two-run homerun that also scored
Dominique Corona.
In the bottom of the sixth, Campbellsville doubled the lead to 4-2 , forcing a rally for the Blazers.
Belhaven answered the challenge with a three run seventh inning.
Carly Yasses singled home
Dani Craft for the first run. Then
Haley Yasses scored on a wild pitch to tie the game at 4.
Belhaven wasn't finished though, as
Josie Porter hit an RBI single to put Belhaven in the lead as
Kelly Rogers scored after pinch running for
Carly Yasses.
The lead would not be enough as Campbellsville answered back with a solo homerun in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game at 5 and send it to extras.
After both teams scored a run in the eighth inning, Belhaven was held scoreless in the ninth, stranding a base runner at third.
In the bottom of the ninth, Campbellsville walked off via a throwing error that allowed the winning run to score from second.
The Blazers will return to action on Monday with its second SSAC series of the year against Blue Mountain College at McLeod Field.