ROANOKE, Va. – The Belhaven Softball team used a key three-run sixth inning and a walkoff single in the eighth inning to sweep pool play and advance to the semifinals of the 2016 NCCAA Softball World Series at the Botetourt Sports Complex.
 
Belhaven trailed early in the contest when Judson (34-21) scored three runs in the third inning, but the Blazers (36-8) rallied for two runs in the bottom half of the frame. After a Dani Craft double and a Hannah Holloway single, Carly Yasses brought both runs home with two outs off a ground ball off the pitcher that bounced into right center field.
 
The Eagles added the two runs back to push the lead back to three runs, but the Green and Gold answered in a big way in the bottom of the sixth. After a Carly Yasses double, followed by a Savannah Lyon single and two outs, Crystal Kehtel sent a fly ball over the left field wall for her fourth home run of the season to tie the contest at five.
 
The contest would go into extra innings. In the bottom of the eighth, after back-to-back walks by Kehtel and Brooke Laigast to put runners at first and second, Savannah Johnston pitch ran for Kehtel at second base. After a Judson pitching change, Craft delivered the walk-off RBI single through the right side to bring home Johnston.
 
Taylor Surrento started for the Blazers, allowed five runs (four earned) with four strikeouts in three and one-third innings.
 
Jordan Herring (11-1) worked four and two-thirds innings of relief and shut down the Judson offense, only allowing three hits and struck out one in the contest.
 
The Blazers will play the runner-up of Pool A, Southern Wesleyan, who took two of three on Thursday night at 5 p.m. CT at the Botetourt Sports Complex.