JACKSON, Miss. – The Belhaven Blazers Softball team earned a split with No. 1 University of Texas at Tyler on Friday, marking the second straight week with an upset victory of a top-5 ranked opponent.
 
The Blazers handed the visiting Patriots their first loss of the 2016 season with a 2-0 victory in the opener, riding a two-hit shutout from Julienne Broussard. The junior pitcher didn't allow a hit until the fifth inning, after the Blazers had already gained a 1-0 lead. She would only allow one more hit in the game, while striking out 10 Patriots batters.
 
Carly Yasses followed up a double by Makenzie Hawkins by beating out a chopper up the middle. However, the play wouldn't end there, as the throw to first was wide and Hawkins was able to score on the error.
 
After Broussard had two strikeouts in the fifth inning, the Blazers added another run. Crystal Kehtel singled with one out and then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Hannah Holloway.
 
Kehtel then came around to score when Dani Craft reached on an error on a muffed throw at first.
 
Texas-Tyler had a chance in the seventh, getting a pair of base runners on with no outs. However, Broussard capped off the game striking out the next three batters to seal the victory.
 
In game two, the Patriots answered back quickly after being held scoreless for the first time since game one of the National Championship last season and the first time in the regular season since April 26, 2014.
 
The Patriots scored two runs in the first on a homerun. Texas-Tyler would go on to add another homerun in the game, part of two big innings for the Patriots in game two.
 
Megan Goss would score the only run for the Blazers, hitting her first homerun as a Blazer in the fifth inning.
 
The Blazers and Patriots will play the rubber match of the series on Saturday, with first pitch scheduled for 12 p.m. at Jim McLeod Field.