JACKSON, Miss. - The Belhaven University softball team used timely hitting and quality at-bats to rally and defeat LeTourneau 4-3 in extra innings on Friday at McLeod Field. Belhaven improves to 4-2 on the season with the victory.

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INSIDE THE MATCHUP

Final: Belhaven 4, LeTourneau 3

Records: Belhaven 4-2 (1-0, ASC) LeTourneau 2-4 (1-3, ASC)

Location:  Jim McLeod Field | Jackson, Miss. |

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HOW IT HAPPENED

- LeTourneau got on the board first in the top half of the second on a two-run home run over the left field wall.

- The Blazers would cut the deficit down to just one run after Cassidy Blount smashed a double off the centerfield wall, which brought Meg Garton home to make it a 2-1 contest.

- Belhaven had several opportunities to tie the game and even take the lead, but came up empty in the third and fourth innings.

- LeTourneau added another run in the top of the fifth on an RBI single out to left field to take a 3-1 lead.

- The Blazers' rally began in the bottom of the fifth when Whitney Jemison converted on an RBI single up the middle to score Makayla Reed to make it a 3-2 ball game.

- Jemison came up with another clutch hit in the bottom of the seventh on a blooper to left, which scored Marlee Blackwell from second to tie the game at 3-3.

- Belhaven retired the side in the top of the eighth, as they looked to win the contest in the bottom half of the inning.  

- In the bottom of the eighth, Brittany Chetta got on base with a leadoff walk.

- Kaitlyn Blubaugh then reached on a bunt single down the third base line to advance Chetta to second.

- Garton would then lay down a nice sacrifice bunt to advance both runners into scoring position with only one out.

- Makayla Reed slapped a fastball high and deep to center field for the game-winning sacrifice fly to score Chetta from third for the win.

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KEY STATISTICS

- The Blazers' bats connected for 10 total hits on the afternoon.

- Whitney Jemison posted a 3-4 performance from the plate and also registered two RBI.

- Cassidy Blount recorded two hits and an RBI.

- Kaitlyn Blubaugh, Meg Garton, Marlee Blackwell, Danielle Darmohray, and Cassidy Comstock each tallied one hit.

- Jordan Herring pitched her second straight complete game, pitching all eight innings and finishing with an impressive six strikeouts.

- Herring improves to 2-0 on the season inside the circle.

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UP NEXT

Belhaven returns to action tomorrow at McLeod Field against LeTourneau at noon and 2:00 p.m. for the final two games of the series.

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