ROANOKE, Va. – The Belhaven Softball team advances to the 2016 NCCAA Softball National Championship with a 9-1 victory over Southern Wesleyan in the semifinals on Thursday night at the Botetourt Sports Complex.
 
Belhaven started the scoring early and often with three early runs in the bottom of the first inning. The Blazers showed great discipline at the plate and was able to draw five walks in the frame, scoring three runs. Haley Yasses, Taylor O'Dell and Crystal Kehtel each brought a run with the bases loaded via the free pass.
 
In the second, the Blazers (37-8) added two more runs to push the lead out to a 5-0 score. After back-to-back singles by Hannah Holloway and Makenzie Hawkins, Carly Yasses reached on a fielder's choice to force Holloway out at third. After a wild pitch, Savannah Lyon singled into center field to bring home Carly Yasses and Hawkins.
 
After the Warriors (23-31) broke the shutout in the fifth, the Blazers responded with four runs to bring the score to 9-1 and secure the victory via run rule.
 
Mary Austin Barber started the frame with a double to right field. After Dani Craft grounded out to the shortstop, Barber took third on the play and scored on an errant throw by the Warrior first baseman.
 
The very next pitch, Hannah Holloway launched a fly ball over the left field fence for her second home run of the season to make the score 7-1 in favor of the Green and Gold.
 
Hawkins continued the inning with a double to right center. After Carly Yasses moved Hawkins to third, Savannah Johnston brought her home on an RBI single to center field. After Haley Yasses reached base on a fielding error, O'Dell secured the run rule victory with an RBI single to center field, bringing home Johnston.
 
The Blazers have hit four homeruns in the World Series and have outscored their opponents 26-8 in their four World Series games.
 
Julienne Broussard (16-3) allowed her first hit in the fifth inning for the second consecutive start, allowed one earned run and stuck out five.
 
With Mississippi College defeating Judson in the other semifinal game on Thursday evening, the Blazers will rematch with the Choctaws in a winner-take-all game for the National Championship. First pitch of the series is set to begin at Noon ET/11 a.m. CT from the Botetourt Sports Complex.